Pair Programming

Elaina was restless the other night--her sleep schedule is off. Heidi was exhausted, because at first, Elaina wouldn't let Heidi out of her sight. There's a software development practice called "pair programming", where two developers work together on the same code at the same time--the theory being that you get two perspectives, real-time code review, and can have one person focused on implementation and the other on strategic issues. I thought Elaina and I could give it a try.


I put Elaina in the Ergo baby carrier and had my hands free to work. One thing the manufacturer of the Ergo neglects to mention: the baby has her hands free too! Clearly, my partner is not focusing on strategic issues like she's supposed to. Grabbing your partner's lip is almost never acceptable practice in pair programming. We'll have to try this again when she's feeling a little more strategic.