Distributed Pair Programming

Correct Answer: Have two team members work together on coding a feature with continuous integration of code changes.

Having two team members working together on coding a feature while continuously integrating code changes is the best distributed pair programming practice to address frequent code integration issues. This practice, often known as Pair Programming, increases the speed of problem solving and knowledge transfer. It also promotes teamwork and improves team communication, which can minimize integration issues significantly 'Instructing the team to code separately and then resolve conflicts during integration' is not a good practice because it leads to integration issues - the very problem the question is about 'Relying on automated tools to correct code issues during integration' puts too much reliance on tools, and less on the skills and knowledge of the development team. Tools can fail and are not able to handle all scenarios of integration issues, introducing more risks 'Allowing only experienced developers to write and integrate code' is not a best practice in the context of scrum, because it goes against the principles of collective ownership and teamwork which encourage all team members to contribute code.

Correct Answer: Switch control between John and Tom frequently, ensuring both get fair amount of 'driving' and 'navigating'.

The best strategy in this case would be to switch control between John and Tom frequently, ensuring both get a fair amount of 'driving' and 'navigating'. This approach facilitates learning, as one person 'drives' or codes, while the 'navigator' reviews each line of code as it's typed in. Both of these roles offer different perspectives and challenges, fostering a learning environment. Other answers are not optimal because: 1) Letting John work independently negates the benefits of pair programming. 2) Simply increasing the frequency of pair programming sessions may not improve John's learning experience if the core issue of not switching roles is not addressed. 3) Assigning another partner to John might not necessarily lead to a better learning experience, especially if the new pairing repeats the same issue of one-sided control.

Correct Answer: Establishing a shared coding style and conventions

Establishing a shared coding style and conventions is the best practice for maintaining shared understanding and mitigating communication gaps between distributed pairs in Distributed Pair Programming. Having a consistent coding style and agreed-upon conventions helps ensure that both partners can easily read, understand, and collaborate on the code, even when working remotely. This promotes clarity and reduces misunderstandings. Relying solely on asynchronous communication channels like email is not ideal, as it can lead to delays and misinterpretations. Distributed pairs should use a combination of synchronous communication (e.g., video calls, screen sharing) and asynchronous methods to ensure effective collaboration. Encouraging individual coding practices may hinder the benefits of pair programming, which relies on close collaboration and shared ownership of the code. Pairs should strive to work together and make decisions jointly. While regular status update meetings with the entire team can be beneficial, they do not directly address the specific communication needs of distributed pairs. The pairs themselves should prioritize frequent communication and collaboration to maintain a shared understanding of their work.