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I had so many negative experience pair programming that I started to find ways to avoid it. There were the pairs the insisted on using vim[1]. There were the p
by vertis 5y ago
I had so many negative experience pair programming that I started to find ways to avoid it.
There were the pairs the insisted on using vim[1]. There were the pairs that hogged the keyboard. I'm sure there were other things that frustrated me about it (it's been a long time since this was an every day thing now). In the end though, I opted out of pairing, first by taking a devops role at the same company that didn't require it, and later by not applying to any company that had that as a requirement.
To be clear, I'm not against pairing occasionally, but overall I prefer to be alone with my thoughts while programming -- not having to negotiate every little thing with a new pair.
If that doesn't suit the company, then so be it.
[1] I have nothing against vim, and I even know how to use it's basic functionality, but it's a huge barrier to being involved and efficient on someone's computer.
- dcminter 5y agoHeh. I have to wonder if the pairs that insisted on using vim might be using that as a politically acceptable way to avoid pairing!
- davidrupp 5y agoI worked with some vim power-users (I was definitely not one myself), and learned a lot from them by accommodating their preference. Similar results for other tools that I might not have picked up on my own. The only thing I drew the line at was switching to Dvorak with the one dude who carried his own special keyboard around with him. Even that I consider a missed opportunity, but I knew it would have wrecked my productivity at first, and it would have confused my muscle memory for QWERTY for the other 80% of my work week.
- vertis 5y agoI know people that feel that way about it. I can't argue, I also had some really great pairing sessions where I learned a lot. On balance though, it was not what I wanted out of programming. I have no problem with people that want to do consensual pairing (heh). To make that a focus for their career. It just wasn't for me. I've ended up going in a different direction now building a startup.