Comments on: The Navigator role must have been coined by a keyboard hogger http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/the-navigator-role-must-have-been-coined-by-a-keyboard-hogger/ Metabolising caffeine into code Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:34:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nick http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/the-navigator-role-must-have-been-coined-by-a-keyboard-hogger/comment-page-1/#comment-1798 Nick Sun, 24 May 2009 06:26:32 +0000 http://ca.rroll.net/?p=182#comment-1798 Robert, I have given up the keyboard on many occasions, sometimes up to a whole day, and often deliberately on refactoring missions. So your contribution to this discussion topic offers nothing new to me and is just a moot point. I am looking at improving the existing process which is where you seem to be stuck on. Maybe instead of telling me how to improve as a pair, you should take the opportunity to reflect and improve on your own pairing skills. Robert, I have given up the keyboard on many occasions, sometimes up to a whole day, and often deliberately on refactoring missions. So your contribution to this discussion topic offers nothing new to me and is just a moot point.

I am looking at improving the existing process which is where you seem to be stuck on. Maybe instead of telling me how to improve as a pair, you should take the opportunity to reflect and improve on your own pairing skills.

]]> By: Robert http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/the-navigator-role-must-have-been-coined-by-a-keyboard-hogger/comment-page-1/#comment-1797 Robert Sat, 23 May 2009 22:48:59 +0000 http://ca.rroll.net/?p=182#comment-1797 Here's another way to look at this: "My pair partner has problems staying engaged when he doesn't have the keyboard" - "Well, try swapping the keyboard regularly in order to keep him engaged. Here's various ways to do that...." VS "_I_ have a problem staying engaged when I don't have the keyboard" - "Well, pairing isn't just about swapping keyboards, you know. Sure, you can try that and it will probably help, but if you can address your problem by working out how to be a better navigator and contribute more without having the keyboard in front of you, then you will end up being more engaged - and a better pair partner as well" See the difference? Here’s another way to look at this:

“My pair partner has problems staying engaged when he doesn’t have the keyboard” – “Well, try swapping the keyboard regularly in order to keep him engaged. Here’s various ways to do that….”

VS

“_I_ have a problem staying engaged when I don’t have the keyboard” – “Well, pairing isn’t just about swapping keyboards, you know. Sure, you can try that and it will probably help, but if you can address your problem by working out how to be a better navigator and contribute more without having the keyboard in front of you, then you will end up being more engaged – and a better pair partner as well”

See the difference?

]]> By: Robert http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/the-navigator-role-must-have-been-coined-by-a-keyboard-hogger/comment-page-1/#comment-1796 Robert Sat, 23 May 2009 22:34:01 +0000 http://ca.rroll.net/?p=182#comment-1796 Actually, in the last post, I told you that you should deliberately _give up_ control of the keyboard for extended periods. Slight difference. Pairing is about communication more than about the keyboard. Nor is it "taking turns". Both the driver and the navigator should be involved in the task 100% - regardless of who is on the keyboard. If you feel you can't contribute if you aren't given the keyboard regularly, that sounds like you have an opportunity to improve yourself. Actually, in the last post, I told you that you should deliberately _give up_ control of the keyboard for extended periods. Slight difference.

Pairing is about communication more than about the keyboard. Nor is it “taking turns”. Both the driver and the navigator should be involved in the task 100% – regardless of who is on the keyboard.

If you feel you can’t contribute if you aren’t given the keyboard regularly, that sounds like you have an opportunity to improve yourself.

]]> By: JoshG http://ca.rroll.net/2009/05/23/the-navigator-role-must-have-been-coined-by-a-keyboard-hogger/comment-page-1/#comment-1793 JoshG Sat, 23 May 2009 13:01:27 +0000 http://ca.rroll.net/?p=182#comment-1793 +1 - although I contract keyboard swine flu from time to time, I find that when I get the keyboard wrenched from my vice-like grip, it allows me to think about the problem better rather than fixate on a solution. Despite usually being the "more experienced developer", I also learn valuable techniques, insights, and new information from all the pairs I've worked with, no matter what their experience level was. Most importantly from the customer's perspective, the implementation flows more smoothly with "ping pong" pairing. It's clear, simple, and almost always very sound at the unit level. Sure, there can be pedantic stages of the process but it's very easy for both to see when the red/green cycle has become obtuse and they move onto the more interesting specifications and implementation. It's my favourite way to code. +1 – although I contract keyboard swine flu from time to time, I find that when I get the keyboard wrenched from my vice-like grip, it allows me to think about the problem better rather than fixate on a solution.

Despite usually being the “more experienced developer”, I also learn valuable techniques, insights, and new information from all the pairs I’ve worked with, no matter what their experience level was.

Most importantly from the customer’s perspective, the implementation flows more smoothly with “ping pong” pairing. It’s clear, simple, and almost always very sound at the unit level.

Sure, there can be pedantic stages of the process but it’s very easy for both to see when the red/green cycle has become obtuse and they move onto the more interesting specifications and implementation.

It’s my favourite way to code.

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