Slides for a 45-minute talk around distributed experiences, including a few tips and a recommendation for using mob programming to help cohere a distributed team.

1. Jeff Langr / jeff@Langrsoft.com
http://langrsoft.com
@jlangr
Make it Run / Make it Right, Make it Stick
Distributed Software Development

2. @jlangr
Where Are We?

3. Make It Run / Make It Right

4. @JLangr
Chris Me
UNIVERSITY of MARYLAND CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
1982-1985
"Four Elevens Mag3737 Deriv," courtesy Oldemar Frog
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

5. @JLangr
"CUBE FARM"
MARRIOTT, Bethesda, MD 1989-1992
MCI, Pentagon City, VA 1992-1994
MCI, Colorado Springs, CO 1994-1998
https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-black-cow-figurine-1340373/
Mooo...

6. @JLangr
"Open Plan" Workspace

7. @JLangr
GEOLEARNING 2010-2011: Making it Run
Tim
me
... kind of

8. @JLangr
OUTPACE SYSTEMS: Making it Right
2013-2016
Alex Ro. Yves
Mario
me
Rusty Tanya
Zee

9. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Also
2018
COS / OKC / Brazil
2019
COS / Dearborn, MI
various other
training / coaching

10. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Quick Poll
# years of experience working
remotely?

11. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Truly flat organization
High-end folks wherever they live
Daily morning sync-up
Synchronized schedule (mostly US)
Biz Dev

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Communication Tools
Zoom
Trello
Slack
Google Docs

13. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Video
Make It Run: Google Hangouts
Make It Right: Zoom

14. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Shared Desktop
Make It Run
Take 1: MacOS Screen Share
Take 2: Screenhero

15. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Shared Desktop
Make It Right
(collaborative dev work)
Take 3: Zoom + tmate + Vim/Emacs
Take 4: Zoom + self-hosted tmate + Vim/Emacs
Next: Zoom + collaborative editor?

16. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Challenges
Camera-shy folks
Worker/rester
Stagnant pairs
Tendency to self-silo (devs vs ops)
Time zones
Zoning out

17. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Some Simple Thoughts
Cameras always on!
Disconnect protocol
Wait before correcting
Pairing: Find a way to switch mid-day
Large mtg shyness: Rotate; poke-to-talk
Standups: Shared google doc

18. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Quick Poll
Break down an average day.
How many hours are spent in each:
Working solo
In discussions with others
Collaboratively working with others
Sample response: <1, 1, 7

19. Make It Stick

20. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Human Considerations
Social interaction
Team coherence
Feeling of value

21. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Some Things We Did
Regular get-togethers
Stand-downs / beer o'clock
Work physically together for a bit
Secret Santa

22. @jlangr
The most efficient and effective method of
conveying information to and within a development
team is face-to-face conversation.
source: http://agilemanifesto.org

23. @JLangr
MOB PROGRAMMING
"All the brilliant people working on the same thing,
at the same time,
in the same place,
and on the same computer."
-- Woody Zuill
http://mobprogramming.org
Photo courtesy Agile Ailliance.
virtual?

24. @JLangr
MOB PROGRAMMING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVqUcNKVbYg

25. @JLangr
Common Sense
+
2 Rules
+
Comfort / Safety
+
Ongoing Inspection / Adaptation

26. @JLangr
"For an idea to go from your head into the computer
it MUST go through someone else's hands."
-- Llewellyn Falco
http://llewellynfalco.blogspot.com/2014/06/llewellyns-strong-style-pairing.html
Rule #1: DRIVER DOESN'T NAVIGATE
Strong Style Pairing

27. @JLangr
http://mobster.cc
Rule #2: *SHORT* TIMED ROTATION
https://github.com/remotemobprogramming/mob

28. @JLangr
"We go faster."
Why?

29. @JLangr
• Important discussions happen before code is integrated
• Before it's too late
• WIP of one: Focus on delivery & flow of one piece
• Fewer / simpler rituals
(standups, merging, pull requests, defect tracking, context switching, etc)
• All the information in the room
• All the wisdom
• Everyone understands all the code
• And the decisions that went into it
• Consistent solutions
• Adherence to quality standards more likely
• Less rework (defects)
• Impatience -> promoting more efficient techniques
• Faster novice ramp-up
Some possible reasons

30. Copyright © Langr Software Solutions, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
Remote + Mobbing
Stay home,
speed up,
stay human.

31. Jeff Langr / jeff@Langrsoft.com
http://langrsoft.com
@jlangr
Thank you!