MetaWork: Come on, remote pair programming is so cool!

1. Talk about pair programming

As we all know, pair programming (English: Pair programming ) is an agile software development method in which two programmers work together on a computer. One person enters the code, while the other person reviews every line of code he enters.

But in the real environment, there are often more than two pair programming:

• The backend reviews the code around the frontend.
• Product/design/test restyles around the front end.

So it will develop into the following:

Obviously, this does not meet the precautionary regulations during the epidemic. Moreover, in today's light AB class and home office, it is very difficult for novice coders to find a master pair programming.

2. Various postures of remote pair programming

So, what are the ways to find someone for pair programming in remote office? I summarize it for you:

1. Video conference with desktop sharing. One of them explained the code, the others could only listen.
2. git Repository push and pull, read the comments to understand by yourself. Not to mention time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also electricity.
3. On CodePen and other code sharing platforms, send one for everyone to view. It is shown that this method is neither flexible nor safe, and is basically limited to the front end.

Until I saw CODING by MetaWork :

Instantly interested:

• Code collaboration, multi-cursor highlighting.
• Real-time preview, terminal collaboration.
• Built-in message board to share code snippets while chatting.
• Built-in video conferencing allows you to communicate online with multiple people only with a browser.

WeChat + vscode + video conference + CodePen ? Let's see my trial analysis.

3. Code multi-person collaboration product analysis

In all kinds of online courses, it is actually one-way knowledge dissemination, which lacks collaboration.

• When the teacher opens the screen to share, only the students' expressions can be observed .
• Students need to open dual screens and watch while tapping. If you don't understand, you can only switch the interface to take a screenshot .
• Each needs to open several software to realize the function of recording/communication .

Many times teachers think that students understand, and students think they understand.

When actually typing the code, it is forgotten everywhere, and the playback of the live broadcast often needs to wait for the system to generate. This efficiency is obviously not enough.

Before that, I tried to search for " vscode multi-person collaboration" and found that microsoft officially released one: Live Share :

It roughly has the following functions:

• Share code editing in real time
• Follow the cursor of the rest of the team
• Debug code collaboratively
• Shared local server
• shared terminal

And because it is a foreign product, there is no localization, and the interaction is a bit sloppy.

At least without looking at the documentation, it took more than ten minutes to barely understand how to operate.

And because it is a foreign plug-in, it is also good and bad on the Internet. Some acclimatized taste.

4. MetaWork Experience

In my opinion, the significance of multi-person collaboration/pair programming, in addition to discussing and solving problems with each other at work, is to give more help and growth to beginners . From the whole experience and mode of Live Share , the mental cost for beginners is quite high, and it is more like a trick for masters .

So let's again

Go back to the process of MetaWork and feel the sincerity of this product.

4.1 Initiator:

1. To register, you need to log in https://cloudstudio.net/ and register an account. Support three types of CODING/WeChat/Github.
   
2. Go to the console to generate a space (for convenience, I used the official Vue template).

3. Start collaborating.

As you can see, the whole operation is very smooth and there is no sense of splitting.

4. Share the link with others

Compared to Live Share , they are made! mail! piece! Immediately I feel MetaWork more grounded.

4.2 Invitees

1. Log in, and open the share link -> join now.

There is a security certification here to prevent unknown people from peeping on the screen. . .

Subject to the consent of the initiator.

2. After agreeing, you can enter the collaboration interface.

Test the entire process, from loading the editor to being collaborative, in less than 10 seconds.

3. enter the follow state

It can be seen that each keystroke of the other party can be clearly observed.

When there are more than 2 people, each cursor is different for easy distinction

That's what all code collaborations are designed to do: share code edits in real time, follow the cursors of the rest of the team .

5. Function point: message board

At first, I felt that the function of this message board was a bit tasteless: who would leave WeChat without using it?

But think about it: when we need to share the screen in a Tencent conference, the field of vision of the operator/audience is not on the same screen.

Communication has to switch between different software , which can be distracting and unprofessional.

After using it, I feel: really fragrant!

There is a very wonderful feature: jump code references .

This can solve many pain points of online courses: even if you make a comment, you will still forget where the code is.

Even....you can chat and fish, the boss thinks you are typing the code seriously (wrong.

6. Feature point: online multiplayer voice/video

This step directly eliminates the need for a video conference.

True remote pair programming , that is, the avatar has not been synchronized yet, I hope the official will work harder.

A scenario comes to mind: multiple people modify the code online at the same time, and see the rhythm of the real chapter under the code . . .

7. Experience Summary

Before the epidemic, I don't think there is any application prospect for online code collaboration.

But nowadays, telecommuting has become the norm, and online classrooms have exploded. From time to time, the computer is not around, and you need to buy a second computer.

And Cloud Studio + MetaWork solves the problem of environment inconsistency (multiple people open the same workspace backup) and the need for multiple software to achieve remote collaboration.

You only need one iPad or a browser window of any computer, you can realize all remote office functions such as online coding, multi-person collaboration, message discussion, audio and video.

Why don't you try Cloud Studio + MetaWork ?