Pair Programming in the Age of Remote Work and AI

If AI is becoming our most reliable coding partner, it's worth stepping back to look at how the idea of "pairing" in software development began - with humans sitting side by side, practicing pair programming.

Let's take a closer look at pair programming and how it works. In this practice, two developers share a single workstation, taking on distinct roles: the Driver, who writes the code, and the Observer, who reviews each line in real time and thinks ahead to spot issues or suggest improvements.

The Driver codes and solves the immediate problem by writing code. The Observer understands the problem being solved and reviews the code as it's written. Both roles are interchangeable, with programmers taking turns in each role.

Traditionally, pair programming meant two developers sharing the same desk - literally one computer, one monitor, one keyboard, and one mouse. The goal was simple: collaborate in person to solve problems and write better code. Today, that setup is no longer required. With remote work, screen sharing, video calls, and collaborative coding tools, pair programming can happen from anywhere.

As a result, the market has seen a surge in platforms built for remote pair programming. These tools allow developers to share screens, co-edit code in real time, communicate over voice or chat, and even work from cloud-based IDEs - all designed to make distance feel irrelevant. Some of these tools include:

• Visual Studio Live Share: An extension for Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code that enables you to share your project with others and collaboratively edit and debug in real-time. It supports sharing a coding environment without the need for syncing or setting up the same development tools, libraries, or SDKs.
• CodeTogether: A cloud-based tool that allows developers to join a coding session through their browser. It integrates with popular IDEs like Eclipse, IntelliJ, and Visual Studio Code, enabling participants to edit and navigate code together with minimal latency.
• Screen: A tool that allows for collaborative screen sharing where team members can share control of the screen. It's designed for more than just coding, supporting general collaboration needs.
• Drovio