Mob programming is an agile software development approach where the entire team works on the same thing, at the same time, in the same space, and on the same computer. Here we look at what mob programming is, how it works, its benefits, and how Tramshed Tech provides the perfect collaborative working space for this type of work.
In short, Mob Programming is a software development approach where the entire team works on the same thing, at the same time, in the same space, and on the same computer. Think of Mob Programming as a tool that can be used to effectively chop down and complete large stories and epics. Though it’s called mob ‘programming’, this practice isn’t all about programming - it’s about putting people together to solve a complex problem.
This means you can work on any project, from writing a document to planning for future work, to doing performance testing, with a variety of people and roles in the room contributing.
Mob Programming Vs Pair Programming
Mob programming extends the concept of pair programming, which is where only two people join a session to work together on a single machine.
Unlike pair programming, mob programming doesn't limit the number of participants. As the word "mob" refers to a crowd, mob programming involves two or more developers from the team. The specific number of team members involved is based on the requirements of the mob session.
So, How Does Mob Programming Actually Work?
Here are the basics of mob programming that you should consider in order to make your mob session productive:
- Set a target for each session
- Use one large screen to make it visible for the whole screen
- Use one keyboard
- Use a private room with a clean environment
- Ensure you have a reliable connection
- Select a time keeper to rotate who is on the keyboard every 15 or 30 minutes
- Ensure everyone gets time at the keyboard
- Take small breaks regularly
- Use the driver-navigator model
Each of these tips are flexible and should be discussed with the group before starting.
Learn more about the best practices of mob programming here.
Mob Programming Benefits
Ultimately, mob programming is performed to make teams more productive by working, sharing, and learning together. Here are just some of the benefits it brings:
Improved Communication
Due to the collaborative face-to-face nature of mob programming, communication issues are eliminated, such as waiting for answers to questions and time wasting from back and forth email conversations. Incorporating this into your business will therefore save both yours and your client's valuable time.
Improved Decision Making
Because the entire team makes decisions, those decisions are made more quickly with much more current and relevant information. Also, teams using Mob Programming view decisions as an opportunity to learn and to continuously steer to a better solution.
Additionally, when a developer had to drop out due to a commitment, work wouldn’t stall because others were able to carry on
Reduced Work In Progress (WIP)
With mob programming, WIP is reduced to 1, therefore greatly increasing flow and eliminating waste. This means getting work completed without being in a wait state, without having inventory or wasted time.
When a team works on one thing at a time, the team tends to keep things simple and prevents the addition of unnecessary things. Involving the entire team, including the product owner in these daily efforts prevents someone from inadvertently adding more in than what is truly necessary.
Increased Rate Of Learning
Mob programming is a great way to teach other team members various skills through working together and the rate of learning is also amped up on a team that is mobbing . Developers new to the team can be coding and making commits on their first day of work. Some who may be new to a language can learn from those more experienced. And more experienced developers can learn from the fresh perspective of newcomers.
Coworking Spaces For Mob Programming
Mob programming is all about the whole team working together in one space, but in order for this to be effective, you must be in a suitable working environment. The space must be clean and big enough to fit the whole team (and space to move about). There also must be a big or dual screen located in the room for all team members to see, as well as a strong, reliable network connection.
Here at Tramshed Tech, we offer the ideal collaborative working space for mob programming. Tramshed Tech is home to 50+ companies ranging from pre-revenue start-ups to scaling businesses with 600+ registered members from the digital, creative and tech communities. We’re currently based in Grangetown, Cardiff, soon to expand to other sites across South Wales to include Central Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.
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We are Tramshed Tech: a collaborative community, where startups scale up. Tramshed Tech is the best place to start and grow your business because we understand the challenges entrepreneurs face. We build beautiful workspaces with business support and skills programmes to help businesses thrive. Find out more about our spaces here, or head over to our blog page for more exciting articles on tech and growing your business.
