Get the best hardware you can . Saving on hardware is stupid . One big screen is better than two . It is easier to look at the same thing . Always talk out loud what you think . Your pair cannot read your mind . Switch roles frequently . At least every 25 minutes . It helps the pair stay focused. Take breaks . A day of pair programming can be exhausting! Use Test Driven Development . It helps you keep track of what your doing. It can improve the quality of your code. But do not forget the goal which is code that works, not test coverage . Recommended readings: http://www.extremeprogramming.org/rules/pair.html http://guide.agilealliance.org/guide/pairing.html http://www.wikihow.com/Pair-Program http://blog.xebia.com/2010/05/09/practical-styles-of-pair-programming