This document discusses mob programming, an agile development technique where the entire team works together on the same task using one computer. It describes mob roles like driver, navigator, and facilitator. The driver focuses on typing code while listening to the navigator, who formulates ideas for the team. Roles rotate every few minutes. Guidelines are provided for mitigating emotions and ensuring visibility when mobbing with many developers. Mob programming aims to improve collaboration, knowledge sharing, and code quality.

1. Mob Programming
May 2016
Peter Kofler, ‘Code Cop’
@codecopkofler
www.code-cop.org
Copyright Peter Kofler, licensed under CC-BY.

2. Peter Kofler
• Ph.D. (Appl. Math.)
• Professional Software
Developer for 15+ years
• “fanatic about code quality”
• I help development teams
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY

3. I help development teams with
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY
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Professionalism
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Quality and
Productivity
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Continuous
Improvement

4. Mentoring
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY
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Pair Programming
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Programming
Workshops
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Deliberate
Practice, e.g.
Coding Dojos

5. Developing Quality
Software Developers

6. Pair Programming
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Two programmers
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work together
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on the same thing
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at one workstation.
Pair programming is a dialogue between
two people simultaneously programming
(and analysing and designing and testing)
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY

7. Mob Programming
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All the brilliant people
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working at the same time,
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in the same space,
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at the same computer,
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on the same thing.
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY
http://mobprogramming.org/

8. Enterprise CTO
not impressed by
mob programming.
“We often have hundreds
of developers working
on the same thing.”
(Hacker News Onion)

9. Mobbing Roles

10. Driver
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Writes code and “does not think“.
(intelligent input device)
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Only listens to navigator.
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Asks for help when lost.
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Participates in discussion when not typing.
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Rotates every 4 minutes.
(e.g. Coding – Commit – Rotate)
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY

11. Navigator
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Formulates the ideas of the team.
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Tells the driver what to do.
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Does not tell short-cuts (unless asked).
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY

12. The Team
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Focuses on the code.
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Does not zone out/use mobile phone etc.
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Proposes changes.
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Gives ideas.
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Asks questions.
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Might google for some API/details.
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY

13. Facilitator
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Teams new to Mob Programming might
need a dedicated facilitator with
experience in team dynamics.
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Does not type or discuss.
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Cares for the rules.
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Mitigates emotional aspects of mobbing.
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY

14. The Rules

15. 3 Simple Rules
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Driver does not think.
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Navigator formulates the ideas of team
and driver only listens to navigator.
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Start with 4 minute rotation.
(Volunteer will check the timer.)
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY
I heard them first from Nancy Van Schooenderwoert, https://twitter.com/vanschoo

16. Sandro Mancuso's “Fast Mob“
● Fastest driver.
(We do not want to lose time for rotating or learning short-cuts.)
● Driver is not rotating.
● Driver is the one who types fastest/knows IDE best.
● Driver uses his/her best known environment.
● Constantly move forward.
(If the mob does not decide,
the driver starts typing and moves
forward in any direction.)
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY
http://codurance.com/2015/11/01/practicing-well-crafted-design/

17. Mitigate Emotional Aspects
(for new/young team with strong opinions)
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Give preference
(i.e. allow other approaches and see what happens)
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Stick to a given idea for a few minutes
before questioning it (again).
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Objections and other/different ideas are
noted, but team moves on.
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Don't discuss (too much).
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Don't shout or interrupt.
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY

18. Hints for working on the
projector or large screen
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Colours (Contrast is different.)
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Font size (e.g.
presentation mode)
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Line numbers
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Map references on
the monitor →
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY
Image by https://twitter.com/sf105/status/706810807301050370

19. Peter Kofler
@codecopkofler
www.code-cop.org
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY

20. CC Images
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mob https://www.flickr.com/photos/67471462@N00/446597008/
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Bruce http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherpas428/4350620602/
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pairing http://www.flickr.com/photos/dav/94735395/
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driver http://www.flickr.com/photos/48694743@N00/517658329/
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rules http://www.flickr.com/photos/mc_sensei/3935815039/
PETER KOFLER, CODE-COP.ORG FANATIC ABOUT CODE QUALITY