Pair Programming Anti-patterns

Notes from Tim Mackinnon's session about Pairing anit-patterns at XPDay.

The flipchart lists the following:

• Magpie - likes shiny things
• Keyboard hog - doesn't share control
• Backseat driver - calls out typos, keyboard shortcuts
• Runaway train
• Heathcliff - silent
• Won't Go Home

A few of my own tips if you are working with a problematic pair:

• Ask for a break - tea or research strands in parallel
• Ask for a whiteboard discussion
• Switch pairs
• Continue alone and ask for review