How can you manage different working styles and personalities in pair programming?

Pair programming is a collaborative software development technique where two programmers work together on the same codebase, sharing one screen, keyboard, and mouse. It can improve code quality, productivity, and learning, but it also poses some challenges, especially when the pair has different working styles and personalities. How can you manage these differences and make the most of your pair programming sessions? Here are some tips to help you.

1 Know your preferences

Before you start pair programming, it's helpful to know your own preferences and tendencies. For example, are you more of a planner or a doer? Do you like to talk through your ideas or think quietly? Do you prefer to switch roles frequently or stick to one? Knowing your preferences can help you communicate them to your partner and understand where they might differ from theirs. You can also use tools like personality tests, feedback surveys, or retrospectives to learn more about yourself and your partner.

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Bruce Scharlau

I help you teach team collaboration to your software engineering students so they learn the human-side of software development. Your students will thank you later.
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The AI that generates these prompts is hallucinating a bit. Yes, know your preferences, but it's not about you. You pair to develop better quality software. In addition, you'll be swapping roles in ten or fifteen minutes anyways, so don't be too stressed about your preferences when pairing. In addition, in some teams you'll be swapping partners regularly too, in order to spread knowledge within the team. Like I said, it's not about you.

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2 Communicate clearly and respectfully

Communication is key in pair programming, as you need to coordinate your actions, share your thoughts, and solve problems together. To communicate effectively, you need to be clear, respectful, and constructive. For example, you can use descriptive language, avoid jargon, and explain your reasoning. You can also show respect by listening actively, acknowledging your partner's contributions, and asking for their opinions. Moreover, you can be constructive by giving and receiving feedback, suggesting alternatives, and resolving conflicts.

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Bruce Scharlau

I help you teach team collaboration to your software engineering students so they learn the human-side of software development. Your students will thank you later.
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When you're the driver, then you're typing and listening to what your navigator is saying so that you can add their contribution. After ten to fifteen minutes, then you'll swap over. Now that you're the navigator, you'll be telling the driver what to do. Do so clearly, and explain your thinking too, as the driver might have another idea too. If you need to, then step away from the keyboard, and move to a whiteboard to think and discuss together.

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3 Adapt and compromise

Pair programming requires flexibility and compromise, as you have to adjust to your partner's working style and personality. For example, you might have to slow down or speed up, be more or less verbose, or try a different approach or tool. To adapt and compromise, you need to be open-minded, empathetic, and willing to learn. For example, you can try to see things from your partner's perspective, appreciate their strengths and weaknesses, and learn from their skills and experiences.

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Elizabeth Drew

Backend Software Engineer | CFG Degree Alumni | Career switcher from eCommerce Company Director to Software Engineering
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Embrace the Rainbow: Accept from the start that no two coders are the same. Celebrate your differences and remember, it's these very contrasts that can lead to a spectrum of ideas and robust solutions. Communication is Key: Open, honest conversation can turn a roadblock into a stepping stone, revealing new perspectives you hadn't considered. Find the Middle Ground: Sometimes, you'll meet halfway, creating a blend of strategies that might just be the magic potion your project needed! Respect & Empathy: Respect your partner’s views and empathize with their challenges. A dash of kindness can turn a tense coding session into a productive brainstorming bonanza!

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4 Balance roles and responsibilities

Pair programming involves two roles: the driver, who writes the code, and the navigator, who reviews the code and guides the driver. These roles should be balanced and switched regularly, so that both partners can contribute and learn equally. To balance roles and responsibilities, you need to be fair, cooperative, and proactive. For example, you can agree on a time limit or a task completion criteria for switching roles. You can also cooperate by following the agreed rules and goals, and by supporting each other. Moreover, you can be proactive by taking initiative, asking questions, and offering suggestions.

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5 Take breaks and have fun

Pair programming can be mentally and emotionally demanding, as you have to focus, communicate, and collaborate for long periods of time. To avoid burnout and frustration, you need to take breaks and have fun. For example, you can take regular breaks to rest, stretch, or do something else. You can also have fun by adding some humor, creativity, or gamification to your pair programming sessions. For example, you can joke, praise, or challenge each other, or use tools like CodeCombat or CodeWars to practice your skills.

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Arthur Ferreira

Fullstack Developer | .Net | Angular | RPA | RESTful APIs | Typescript | Git | C# | SQL | MongoDB
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I believe it is extremely necessary to clarify the requirements and understand the purpose of the task. In addition to knowing how to listen, what enriches pair programming is questioning, always thinking about the quality of delivery. Remenber, pair programming is not a competition!

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6 Evaluate and improve

Pair programming is a continuous learning process, where you can always improve your skills, techniques, and relationships. To evaluate and improve, you need to be reflective, honest, and positive. For example, you can reflect on your pair programming sessions by asking yourself and your partner what went well, what didn't, and what can be done better. You can also be honest by sharing your feelings, needs, and expectations, and by addressing any issues or concerns. Moreover, you can be positive by celebrating your achievements, expressing gratitude, and giving compliments.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Bruce Scharlau

I help you teach team collaboration to your software engineering students so they learn the human-side of software development. Your students will thank you later.
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Pairing is about developing quality code. It combines code review as you have two people looking at it as it's typed. It also adds relevant tests at the time too. This all speeds up the feedback loop on the application too.

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How can you manage different working styles and personalities in pair programming?

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2

3

4

5

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1 Know your preferences

2 Communicate clearly and respectfully

3 Adapt and compromise

4 Balance roles and responsibilities

5 Take breaks and have fun

6 Evaluate and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Software Development

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How can you manage different working styles and personalities in pair programming?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Know your preferences

2 Communicate clearly and respectfully

3 Adapt and compromise

4 Balance roles and responsibilities

5 Take breaks and have fun

6 Evaluate and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Software Development

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