Pull requests versus pair programming

Pull requests

• It's maybe possible for pull requests to be a cheaper way of achieving the same benefits as pair programming
• But this requires a lot of discipline from the developer and the reviewer
• Nitpicks are like 30 million dollars for the perverted arts

Pair programming

• By far the best way to transfer knowledge between senior and junior
  • And it goes both ways e.g. junior will share some sick modern tricks
• Keyboard shortcuts, cli tricks and so on stick in the mind much more readily when learned by doing with guidance
  • Similarly, a knowledge transfer session is much more effective when the audience does the steps guided by the presenter
• Pair programming lifts everyone to the best performer and beyond, pull requests drag everyone down to the worst performer

Good article

• https://mtlynch.io/code-review-love/ of which I 100% agree with most points
• Writing a description should be a simple case of linking back to the ticket
• Put cosmetic changes (if absolutely necessary) in their own commit so reviewers don't have to consider them
• The reviewer may have fresh eyes, but none of the context, and should appreciate the author has made decisions based on a much more thorough understanding of the situation