Remote Mob Programming
A small team works on one task at the same time on one shared screen, fully remote. One person is the typist and only types what the rest of the group tells them; the others discuss and decide. The typist role rotates every ten minutes, and the work in progress is handed to the next typist so they can share their screen and carry on.
Use when a team needs to solve a hard problem together, spread knowledge fast, or onboard new members, and it works remotely.
Solves: Remote team members work alone on separate tickets, knowledge stays in individual heads, and reviews pile up waiting.
- 1
Step 1: Set one goal for the session, such as a feature, a bug or a document (5 min).
- 2
Step 2: Join with cameras on. Agree the rotation order and start a ten-minute timer (2 min).
- 3
Step 3: The first typist shares their screen. The group discusses and tells the typist what to do; the typist does not act on their own ideas (10 min).
- 4
Step 4: When the timer goes, the typist hands over the work in progress and the next person shares their screen (1 min).
- 5
Step 5: Repeat the rotation, taking a short break every hour (60-240 min).
- 6
Step 6: At the end, clean up the work, record key decisions, and do a two-minute check on how the session went (10 min).
- Keep the group to three to five. Beyond that, individual speaking time drops and people drift off.
- Protect the typist rule. When one person grabs control, the group stops reasoning out loud.
- Meet in person now and then; the originators met monthly to keep relationships strong.
- Mob writing: the same rotation used for writing a strategy document or policy instead of code.