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I've only ever done it in person and I can't imagine it would work particularly well remotely. Maybe you could attempt to recreate the experience in VR but I do

I've only ever done it in person and I can't imagine it would work particularly well remotely. Maybe you could attempt to recreate the experience in VR but I don't think we have anywhere near the technology level to accurately recreate 7 people physically in the same space as each other constantly moving around, having side conversations and whiteboarding things

q845712 5y ago
I've experienced it working well-enough in groups of 3-4, depending on everyone having decent internet at that time and on the software used. Just like regular mobbing IMO there's some circumstances where it'll feel like the right method, if it's a method you've occasionally practiced. Here's some free marketing, I am not affiliated with any of these co.s: The best tool I've used for multiple users was CoScreen, because it shows everyone's cursors and allows simultaneous sharing of windows from multiple coworkers. So per that point in the OP that the major benefit is "trivia" knowledge, if you have one coworker who can quickly solve subproblem X from their terminal, and another who can quickly solve subproblem Y from their terminal, both terminals can be shared simultaneously and everyone can gain that context.
- lexicality 5y ago
  I would be willing to try what you're saying, but I don't think it would feel to me like in person feels. But maybe that's OK? It doesn't need to be the same experience as long as the outcome is the same.
jrochkind1 5y ago
Thanks, that's what I suspected! That makes sense, the "constantly moving around having side-conversations and whiteboarding things" being a good part of it. After reading your description, I could see myself liking in-person mobbing too, and it really being a different thing than "pairing" (which I don't love)... but trying to do it remote sounds nightmarish to me personally.
- lexicality 5y ago
  Bear in mind it needs to take place in an environment where people trust each other and feel safe. Nothing kills the mood faster than someone saying something like "that's a stupid idea Steve, what's wrong with you?" I definitely think remote group programming is possible, but I reckon it'd be really hard to get right _starting_ remote, and it'd never be quite as good as in person is.

q845712 5y ago

I've experienced it working well-enough in groups of 3-4, depending on everyone having decent internet at that time and on the software used. Just like regular mobbing IMO there's some circumstances where it'll feel like the right method, if it's a method you've occasionally practiced. Here's some free marketing, I am not affiliated with any of these co.s: The best tool I've used for multiple users was CoScreen, because it shows everyone's cursors and allows simultaneous sharing of windows from multiple coworkers. So per that point in the OP that the major benefit is "trivia" knowledge, if you have one coworker who can quickly solve subproblem X from their terminal, and another who can quickly solve subproblem Y from their terminal, both terminals can be shared simultaneously and everyone can gain that context.

lexicality 5y ago
I would be willing to try what you're saying, but I don't think it would feel to me like in person feels. But maybe that's OK? It doesn't need to be the same experience as long as the outcome is the same.

jrochkind1 5y ago

Thanks, that's what I suspected! That makes sense, the "constantly moving around having side-conversations and whiteboarding things" being a good part of it. After reading your description, I could see myself liking in-person mobbing too, and it really being a different thing than "pairing" (which I don't love)... but trying to do it remote sounds nightmarish to me personally.

lexicality 5y ago
Bear in mind it needs to take place in an environment where people trust each other and feel safe. Nothing kills the mood faster than someone saying something like "that's a stupid idea Steve, what's wrong with you?" I definitely think remote group programming is possible, but I reckon it'd be really hard to get right _starting_ remote, and it'd never be quite as good as in person is.