This is also making me think of the best development environment I've ever seen, at a large government project. Two development teams, 15-20 developers total, w

This is also making me think of the best development environment I've ever seen, at a large government project. Two development teams, 15-20 developers total, were in a single large room. The outer edge of the room was lined with mini-cubicles so developers could have a space of their own - their own phone, a place for the coat, and really some privacy and retreat. The center of the room had two (later three) "islands" of computers. Each island had five computers - two on each side, one on the end. These were on wide desks with 2 24" monitors each, plenty of room for two or even three chairs per computer. There was a low cubicle wall dividing each of the desks - a little isolation, but if you stood up you could see/talk over it. All programming was done at the island computers. It wasn't so much pair programming as community programming. If a programmer was in the island area, either seated or standing, they were available to pair or help out. One programmer might be working alone on something, but it was in public, and help was immediately available at any time. And with all the space and clear monitor views, it wasn't unusual to see four or five people clustered around one computer, "pairing" and discussing a problem. This is the best combination of pairing, community, and privacy I've ever seen. It was tremendously productive and relaxing.