Pair Programming: Better Than Adderall
Matthew Kleiman at Agile on the Beach 2019
For years Matt Kleiman’s Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other learning disabilities deterred his success on traditional software development teams. Working alone, on globally distributed teams, and on amorphous tasks, Matt found himself struggling to meet the expectations of a software engineer. In an endless showdown against distractions, Matt almost gave up on his career.
This is the story of how Pivotal Labs’ Extreme Programming practices empowered Matt. Pair programming provides Matt with a feedback loop for his thoughts and a partner to hold him accountable eight hours a day. Test driven development provides him with a disciplined structure for operating and is the perfect counterweight to inevitable distractions. Matt’s journey has taught him why it’s so important to work in ways that allow individuals to flourish and for us to have empathy for the learning styles of our peers.
BIOGRAPHY
Matt Kleiman is passionate about transforming the way the world builds software. Matt struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other learning disabilities during his first 8 years in the tech industry. His first two years as a developer at Pivotal Labs NY provided him with such relief from his struggles that he was able to grow in ways he never even imagined. Today Matt is not only a software engineer and consultant, but he is also a manager at Pivotal Labs’ DC office, where he helps others craft their own career journeys.
Matt loves traveling. He flew over 100,000 miles in 7 different countries in 2018. He and his wife are always looking for cheap flight deals they can turn into great vacations. This year he has put great care into the growth of his moustache, and he fondly refers to his travels as #MustacheOnTheMove. Ask him about the time he flew to Beijing and back in one weekend!
This is the story of how Pivotal Labs’ Extreme Programming practices empowered Matt. Pair programming provides Matt with a feedback loop for his thoughts and a partner to hold him accountable eight hours a day. Test driven development provides him with a disciplined structure for operating and is the perfect counterweight to inevitable distractions. Matt’s journey has taught him why it’s so important to work in ways that allow individuals to flourish and for us to have empathy for the learning styles of our peers.
BIOGRAPHY
Matt Kleiman is passionate about transforming the way the world builds software. Matt struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other learning disabilities during his first 8 years in the tech industry. His first two years as a developer at Pivotal Labs NY provided him with such relief from his struggles that he was able to grow in ways he never even imagined. Today Matt is not only a software engineer and consultant, but he is also a manager at Pivotal Labs’ DC office, where he helps others craft their own career journeys.
Matt loves traveling. He flew over 100,000 miles in 7 different countries in 2018. He and his wife are always looking for cheap flight deals they can turn into great vacations. This year he has put great care into the growth of his moustache, and he fondly refers to his travels as #MustacheOnTheMove. Ask him about the time he flew to Beijing and back in one weekend!