I pair program because I am a perfectly imperfect human
My name is Matt Scilipoti and If I’m not pairing, I’m distracted. Hands down, that’s my number one reason. There are plenty of good reasons to practice pair programming. I feel that the focus that it provides me, and my teammates, is the most important. I choose this benefit because, at the end of each day, this benefit is the one that makes me feel the best about myself. Following closely on the heals of focus is laughter. Pairing provides ample opportunity for laughter.
I am amazing. I have flaws. I embrace them both. My strengths are weaknesses and vise versa. My ADD comes part and parcel with a hyper-focus state that many of my non-ADD friends are jealous of.
I am a perfectly imperfect human.
I suspect that you are too.
The Main Reason: Focus
When I am pairing, I am not on YouTube. I’m not on Reddit, Hacker News, Facebook, or Insta. I’m not clicking cookies or clashing with clans. I’m not reading something vaguely related to programming. I’m not even reading a blog directly related to the feature I am assigned but not related to the problem at hand.
When I am pair programming I am consistently and deliberately doing the the most important thing I should be doing right now. The entire time.
I fully admit, this is a love letter to pairing. An ode to a special partner. My opus to an old friend, who supported me in good times and bad. It gushes with sentimentality. The arguments are wrought with emotions, and, sometimes, illogical reasoning. And yet, much is supported by empirical data. It is precisely these things which make it a sound argument. This is an argument for a human. For the human in me. And the human in you. I am imperfect. I have flaws. I have strengths and weaknesses. After all, I am a human, not a machine. I choose to work with practices that understand that fact. I seek out managers that acknowledge and support the human in me. I choose supporting practices, born from principles, which are rooted in values. I cultivate an ecosystem which acknowledges and embraces the human side of software development. An ecosystem that buffers my flaws and amplifies my strengths. Honestly, it baffles me that others show little concern for these matters. I am a sentimental human and I have seen that my feelings directly affect my level of productivity. Consistently. And reliably.
Flow
Part and parcel with focus, is flow. That state were the world drops away and your current task is front-and-center. Studies show that during pair programming, achieving the state of flow (or group flow) is more reliable, it engages more quickly, and is more easily and quickly recovered than flow in isolation. The hyper-focus element can be lessened, but pairing also produces a conversation bubble that can aide in filtering outside interruptions. This aligns with my experience. My productivity greatly benefits from flow and it’s a state I crave. Single person flow is deep, but fickle. Pair flow is easily achieved and robust.
Closely Followed by…
The next reason I enjoy pair programming is laughter; full-on, belly laughs. Is there more obvious evidence of happiness?
Is it possible to laugh, to let out a full guffaw, while sitting in your corner, snuggled with your computer, noise cancellation headphones in place? I submit to you that it is nigh on impossible. Laughter requires interaction. It requires another human. It needs engaged communication. Not sound bites. Or tweets. They may provide chuckles and chortles, but they are a sad replacement for laughter. Pairing has provided me many opportunities to laugh.
Matt’s hypothesis: the lack of interaction and laughter is a main reason why we flock to these banal sources of empty enjoyment: social media. For me, they are not so much an escape, as me grasping for a replacement. Since I can’t find quality, I scramble for quantity. Junk food for my emotions. Candy masquerading as nutrition.
A Google search for “Laughter is the Best Medicine” will yield myriad support for encouraging laughter, mostly related to reducing stress. These days, we could all use a little of that. Let’s choose practices that encourage laughter, for our health and the health of those around us. After all, who laughs in isolation? Let’s pair more, to bring back laughter. I miss it.
Removing Fear
We don’t fear anything because no one ever works alone.”
Do we need to say more here? You’ve felt it. Lost. Alone. The task is too big. Too complex. How do I start? Where do I turn? Someone help!
We don’t fear anything because no one ever works alone.”
Consistently and Deliberately
To consistently and deliberately perform the most important task at hand is no small feat. Not only does this require a consistent level of focus, which I have only seen achieved when one is within flow, but we also must ensure that the current work actually is the most import thing we should be doing, right now. This requires frequent introspection, lively debate, regular bouts of creativity, and the ability to create and maintain that flow.
I am a perfectly imperfect human.
I am not fully self-supportive.
I vow to support my team, if they will let me.
I hope they return that kindness.
Matt Scilipoti
matts@scilipoti.name
github.com/mattscilipoti
