What techniques can you use to keep both programmers engaged in pair programming?

1 Choose the right partner

Pair programming works best when both programmers have compatible skills, personalities, and goals. You want to find someone who can complement your strengths and weaknesses, challenge your assumptions, and share your vision. You also want to avoid someone who is too dominant, passive, or distracted. You can use tools like Pair Matcher or Pair Roulette to find potential partners based on your preferences and availability.

2 Switch roles frequently

Pair programming involves two roles: the driver, who writes the code, and the navigator, who reviews the code and suggests improvements. To keep both programmers engaged, you should switch roles frequently, ideally every 15 to 30 minutes. This way, you can avoid boredom, fatigue, and resentment, and also learn from each other's perspectives and skills. You can use tools like Pomodoro Timer or Pair Switch to remind you to switch roles regularly.

3 Communicate clearly and respectfully

Pair programming requires constant communication between the partners, so you need to be clear and respectful in your verbal and non-verbal cues. You should explain your intentions, assumptions, and decisions, and listen to your partner's feedback and questions. You should also avoid interrupting, criticizing, or ignoring your partner, and instead use positive and constructive language. You can use tools like Slack or Zoom to facilitate communication and collaboration.

4 Follow coding standards and best practices

Pair programming can help you improve your code quality and consistency, but only if you follow coding standards and best practices. You should agree on the coding style, conventions, and tools that you will use, and follow them throughout the session. You should also use techniques like test-driven development, refactoring, and debugging to ensure that your code is clean, readable, and functional. You can use tools like Prettier or ESLint to enforce coding standards and best practices.