Comments on: Is your Pair hogging the keyboard? http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/is-your-pair-hogging-the-keyboard/ Metabolising caffeine into code Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:34:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: TDD: Making the test green quickly at Mark Needham http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/is-your-pair-hogging-the-keyboard/comment-page-1/#comment-1800 TDD: Making the test green quickly at Mark Needham Sun, 24 May 2009 13:46:08 +0000 http://ca.rroll.net/?p=173#comment-1800 [...] I pointed out some things that I disagreed with in Nick's post about pair programming one thing that I really liked in that post was that he emphasised the importance of getting tests [...] [...] I pointed out some things that I disagreed with in Nick’s post about pair programming one thing that I really liked in that post was that he emphasised the importance of getting tests [...]

]]> By: Nick Carroll » Blog Archive » The Navigator role must have been coined by a keyboard hogger http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/is-your-pair-hogging-the-keyboard/comment-page-1/#comment-1792 Nick Carroll » Blog Archive » The Navigator role must have been coined by a keyboard hogger Sat, 23 May 2009 11:50:34 +0000 http://ca.rroll.net/?p=173#comment-1792 [...] Comments Pair Programming: It’s not about equal keyboard time at Mark Needham on Is your Pair hogging the keyboard?Robert on Is your Pair hogging the keyboard?Nick Carroll » Blog Archive » IR pen goes [...] [...] Comments Pair Programming: It’s not about equal keyboard time at Mark Needham on Is your Pair hogging the keyboard?Robert on Is your Pair hogging the keyboard?Nick Carroll » Blog Archive » IR pen goes [...]

]]> By: Pair Programming: It’s not about equal keyboard time at Mark Needham http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/is-your-pair-hogging-the-keyboard/comment-page-1/#comment-1791 Pair Programming: It’s not about equal keyboard time at Mark Needham Sat, 23 May 2009 06:39:52 +0000 http://ca.rroll.net/?p=173#comment-1791 [...] colleague Nick Carroll recently blogged some ideas about what to do if your pair is hogging the keyboard, suggesting using a timer which keeps track of how long each person has had at the keyboard as a [...] [...] colleague Nick Carroll recently blogged some ideas about what to do if your pair is hogging the keyboard, suggesting using a timer which keeps track of how long each person has had at the keyboard as a [...]

]]> By: Robert http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/is-your-pair-hogging-the-keyboard/comment-page-1/#comment-1790 Robert Sat, 23 May 2009 06:03:36 +0000 http://ca.rroll.net/?p=173#comment-1790 I think you may want to try the opposite as well - deliberately not swapping the keyboard for long extended periods. Pair programming is not just about taking turns at typing. The non-typer - aka the navigator - is meant to be engaged in solving the problem, but at a high level of focus (e.g. thinking strategically, not tactically). I've had great pairing sessions where the keyboard gets swapped back and forth. I've also had great pairing sessions where the keyboard never gets swapped (including where I'm not the one typing). The roles of the pairs differ between these syles of pairing. If you have problems staying engaged when you're not the driver, then you aren't pairing as well as you could be. Swapping the keyboard frequently is one way to deal with that, but it is a solution that keeps you in your comfort zone. Deliberately refusing to swap will push you out of your comfort zone and possibly into becoming a better pair. I think you may want to try the opposite as well – deliberately not swapping the keyboard for long extended periods.

Pair programming is not just about taking turns at typing. The non-typer – aka the navigator – is meant to be engaged in solving the problem, but at a high level of focus (e.g. thinking strategically, not tactically).

I’ve had great pairing sessions where the keyboard gets swapped back and forth. I’ve also had great pairing sessions where the keyboard never gets swapped (including where I’m not the one typing). The roles of the pairs differ between these syles of pairing.

If you have problems staying engaged when you’re not the driver, then you aren’t pairing as well as you could be. Swapping the keyboard frequently is one way to deal with that, but it is a solution that keeps you in your comfort zone. Deliberately refusing to swap will push you out of your comfort zone and possibly into becoming a better pair.

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