Four Eyes Are Better Than Two
May 28, 2024

I’ve always been skeptical about the effectiveness of pair programming.

The idea of two developers working together at one workstation seemed inefficient and mainly frustrating to me. The idea of potential clashes in working styles and the possibility of decreased productivity, in all honestly one of the main reasons I first started to get into writing code is because it was the solace that it provided and the exhilaration of finding “the zone”

However, as time has gone on when we’re understanding our role as working as a effective team member in the advent of effective collaboration in a remote setting, the profound benefits of pairing have started to emerge. Pair has to potential to not only have a positive effect on the dynamics and output of a team, but also help lay fertile bed for a healthy culture.

In recent years turning to pairing has evolved out of a certain necessity. There are certain periods in which seeing thepull requests trending upwards it felt logical to find an organic way to combat this.

Doubts started to creep in with impact on code quality and overall productivity. It seemed counterintuitive that two people working on the same piece of code could be more efficient than one- how is that possible?

The idea that engineers are part of the I.T crowd a rag tag group of outcasts and weirdos resigned to the basement…

The continuous code review process became evident. Errors and bugs were caught much earlier than they would have been in solo efforts. To address initial resistance, I emphasised the value of this built-in review process to the team, showcasing how it led to cleaner, more efficient, and error-free code.

Knowledge sharing was another area where my skepticism turned into appreciation. Initially, I doubted that pair programming could significantly enhance knowledge transfer among team members. However, I quickly realised how effective it was in bridging the experience gap. Less experienced developers were learning directly from their senior counterparts in real-time. We formalised this by setting up a mentorship program within our pair programming practice. Experienced developers took on the role of mentors, providing guidance and sharing their expertise actively. This approach not only fostered a culture of continuous learning but also ensured that critical knowledge was disseminated across the team.

Problem-solving through pair programming was another revelation. Initially, I believed that individual developers might solve complex problems more efficiently on their own. However, the collaborative nature of pair programming proved otherwise. Brainstorming sessions between pairs often led to innovative solutions that a single developer might not have discovered. To fully leverage this, we cultivated an environment where all ideas were valued and encouraged open communication. This inclusivity unlocked the full potential of our team's collective problem-solving capabilities.

Enhancing team collaboration was both a challenge and an opportunity. Pair programming naturally fostered a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, breaking down silos and promoting open communication. However, it also brought to light personality clashes and differences in working styles. To address these issues, we introduced team-building activities and workshops focused on effective communication and conflict resolution. These initiatives helped create a more cohesive and collaborative team environment, where pair programming could flourish.

One of the most surprising benefits of pair programming was its impact on onboarding new team members. Initially, I hadn't considered this advantage. However, it became clear that pairing new hires with experienced developers allowed them to get up to speed quickly with the project’s codebase, tools, and processes. This hands-on learning experience proved far more effective than traditional training methods, enabling new team members to contribute meaningfully much sooner.

Despite the initial skepticism, pair programming has significantly improved our development process. The continuous code review, enhanced knowledge sharing, collaborative problem-solving, increased team collaboration, and faster onboarding have all contributed to a more dynamic, efficient, and cohesive team. By embracing and refining pair programming practices, we have not only improved our code quality but also fostered a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, ultimately driving the success of our projects and the growth of our team.