Distributed.

Jeff Langr, a seasoned software coach and XP advocate, discusses the transformative power of mob programming over traditional agile methods. He explores the hidden inefficiencies of standard agile practices and shares how mob programming fosters collaboration and enhances productivity. Jeff outlines essential rules for mobbing, highlighting engagement and role rotation. He also addresses the challenges of returning to office life and emphasizes the failures of leadership in supporting effective remote work dynamics.

In this engaging discussion, Woody Zuill, a programmer and coach renowned for his work in mob programming, emphasizes prioritizing effectiveness over mere productivity in teams. He shares transformative insights from his global coaching experiences, advocating for self-managing teams that collaborate more harmoniously. Woody also explores how AI can enhance, rather than replace, teamwork dynamics. He provides valuable advice for new engineers and stresses creating supportive environments for meaningful outcomes in software development.

In this episode of Distributed, host Jack Hannah talks to Chris Lucian and Austin Chadwick, the creators of the Mob Mentality Show and longtime engineering leaders at Hunter Industries. Chris, Director of Global Software Development, and Austin, Distinguished Engineer, reflect on mob programming and how practices spread. They open up about what it takes to protect team culture while growing, discuss lessons from their 300+ videos on mob programming and agile, and how AI is just another member of the mob.Highlights:How mob programming went from one team’s experiment to org-wide practiceWhat Chris and Austin learned from publishing 300+ episodes on agile and XPHow AI fits into social coding and the future of pairing and mobbingIn this episode, we cover:(00:00) – Kicking things off with Chris Lucian and Austin Chadwick(01:52) – Rearranging cubicles to make pairing possible(03:09) – The first mob and why it worked(05:01) – Repairing a wonky relationship with the product owner(06:14) – Austin’s first mob and learning a new language on the fly(07:41) – The Mob Mentality Show origin story(09:22) – How Chris and Austin keep their episodes lean and sustainable(12:17) – Diffusion of innovation and spreading practices(15:18) – AI-generated code with domain languages(18:41) – Growing the mob through cellular division while keeping culture(24:49) – What to do when there are no internal XP mentors(28:12) – Using AI like another member of the mob(32:26) – Will AI replace pair and mob programming?ReferencesThe Mob Mentality ShowHuman & AI Collaboration in Mob Programming with Aaron Griffith and Parker BarrettWhere to connect further:Connect with Chris Lucian on LinkedInConnect with Austin Chadwick on LinkedIn Follow TupleWant to hear more? Check out distributed.fmConnect with Jack Hannah

In this engaging dialogue, Benji Weber, Co-founder & CTO at Geordie AI, shares insights on empowering teams through effective leadership. He discusses the delicate balance between giving control and maintaining accountability. Benji explores the value of fostering environments that prioritize curiosity and ownership, while navigating the challenges of remote and in-person work dynamics. The paradox of autonomy versus control in fast-paced settings is unpacked, highlighting how gentle nudging can enhance team collaboration and performance.

Ed Gibbs, Software Engineering Tech Lead at Cisco Meraki, shares his unique journey from physics to tech. He discusses the quirky tradition of 'Fez Friday,' promoting team bonding in a remote environment. Ed dives into innovative practices like meandering syncs, emphasizing collaboration over traditional meetings. He reveals strategies for scaling change within a massive engineering team and the importance of balancing refactoring with delivery in complex systems. Insights on navigating legacy code and the significance of experimentation round out this engaging conversation.

James Simone, Principal Engineer at Salesforce, transitioned from a finance career to tech in just seven years. He discusses the power of collaborative programming and how Salesforce utilizes agile practices to enhance team productivity. James emphasizes the role of reflection in improving workplace happiness and the significance of team agreements. He also dives into metrics for measuring developer satisfaction and the importance of code reviews in fostering communication. His journey showcases how teamwork and continuous learning can drive success in tech.

Obie Fernandez, Principal Engineer at Shopify and a six-time founder, shares his journey from Java to Ruby. He discusses how he revolutionized Rails’ adoption at ThoughtWorks and the significance of AI in enhancing developer experiences at Shopify. Obie highlights the critical role of pair programming in fostering mentorship, while also pondering the future of software development amidst AI advancements. The conversation sheds light on balancing speed with code quality, making it a fascinating listen for tech enthusiasts.

In this engaging conversation, Thomas Paul Mann, cofounder and CEO of Raycast, discusses the successful launch of their iOS app with surprising stealth. He shares insights on prioritizing community engagement over data metrics and the importance of hiring through referrals to maintain quality. Thomas highlights how their biweekly shipping schedule and dogfooding practices enhance product reliability. Additionally, he reflects on navigating startup life during the pandemic and building an effective remote team, emphasizing the power of user feedback in shaping their culture.

Tim Ottinger, a Senior Consultant at Industrial Logic and the Agile Otter, dives into rethinking software development practices. He discusses the pitfalls of solo work and the myths of efficiency in traditional teams. Tim highlights the power of swarm boards for enhanced remote collaboration and emphasizes boosting first-time through rates as a key productivity metric. The conversation also touches on the limitations of AI in coding. Tim advocates for small collaborative experiments to improve workflows and encourages raising team abilities instead of lowering pipeline standards.

In this episode of Distributed, host Jack Hannah speaks with Emily Bache, a technical coach and the creator of Samman Coaching, about her work helping teams improve their development practices. Emily shares her experiences with test-driven development and refactoring, and explains how these practices can transform both code quality and team dynamics.Highlights:The impact of test-driven development on software qualityHow to introduce new practices in a resistant environmentWhy collaborative coding, like ensemble programming, accelerates team growthThe role of leadership in creating a culture of continuous learning and qualityIn this episode, we cover:(00:00) – Kicking things off with Emily Bache(01:25) – First experience with extreme programming in 2000(02:28) – Struggling to get a new team on board with XP(04:03) – Why TDD transformed Emily’s coding approach(05:22) – Becoming a full-time technical coach and YouTuber(06:48) – Defining what a technical coach actually does(07:21) – Inside a high-performing architecture team’s microservices shift(09:04) – Can siloed experts still outperform collaborative teams?(14:42) – Simple tactics to nudge your team toward better practices(20:57) – Ensemble programming explained: many minds, one keyboard(24:45) – Why refactoring skills matter in the age of AI assistantsReferencesApproval Tests and the weekly Approval Tests EnsembleChatGPT & Copilot are NOT Refactoring ToolsWhere to connect further:Connect with Emily Bache on LinkedIn and Samman Technical Coaching SocietyFollow TupleWant to hear more? Check out distributed.fmConnect with Jack Hannah