Pairing
[pair-ing]
Definition of Pairing
Pairing is a Swarming Pattern often associated with eXtreme Programming (XP), is when each Story is worked on by two Developers, working side-by-side at one computer, collaborating on the same design, algorithm, code or test. Many Teams have found it useful to rotate Pairs every 1-2 hours, which is referred to as Polygamous Pairing.
Examples
Both Pairing and Polygamous Pairing are stylized forms of Swarming; however, only in the Polygamous case are there actual Swarmers.
In basic Pairing, where the Pair is fixed for the duration of the Story, the TeamLet is the Pair, one of the Pair is the Coordinator, and there are no Swarmers.
External Sources
Cite This Term
"Pairing" ScrumDictionary.com. Accessed Feb 16, 2025. https://scrumdictionary.com/term/pairing/.