Collaborative Coding Tools for Remote Pair Programming

Remote working is no longer a thing of the past. It seems to be gaining momentum by leaps and bounds with each passing day. Here you will explore how to make the process of remote working more seamless and hassle-free. Also, you will find what are the top collaborative coding tools to take into consideration. 

Remote Working - Is it a Boon or a Bane?

So what exactly is remote working, is it a blessing in disguise or not? Well, until now the idea of working from home was just a mere concept that no business would like to believe in. Before the pandemic, only a few people were given the chance of working remotely (the only catch was their reason would be strong enough) and after the pandemic, that’s not the case anymore, all thanks to the ever-increasing global lockdowns.  

In addition to all this, one shouldn’t be denying the different advantages offered by remote working such as greater flexibility, maintaining a work-life balance, a time-consuming commute no longer viable, more productivity and efficiency can be seen, you tend to work in a more comfortable and cozy environment, less money is spent outside, no happy hours or unnecessary office parties, you are no longer tied to a city or a region in particular. 

This was all from the employee’s point of view, now we will see how remote working can be beneficial from the employer's point of view. In other words how remote working is advantageous for businesses. 

#1 Enhanced productivity and efficiency

One of the obvious benefits of considering a remote working environment is that you get to notice that your employees have become more efficient and productive. Since they get a flexible, comfy and cozy atmosphere to work in they tend to work way more than they used to within your business space. Also,

• ● They don’t have to commute to work. So there is no scope for being tired and time-consumption
• ● They can finish their work whenever they want to
• ● They aren’t disturbed by those nosy coworkers
• ● The pee breaks and cigarette breaks are minimal
• ● Their schedule is more flexible
• ● Here self-motivation plays a significant role.

#2 Access to a larger talent pool 

Another significant benefit of considering remote working, especially from a business point of view, is that you can have instant access to a large talent pool of programmers irrespective of different experiences. Unlike earlier, here you are no longer limited to hiring from nearby regions or places. People can be recruited from all across the globe. Also, this saves ample time and money. Basically, here you are trying to open yourself globally. So there is a fair chance of attracting more and more significant talents. In fact, stats suggest that 70% of employees tend to consider remote work. 

#3 Cost-effective

The next crucial benefit gained from considering remote working or work-from-home environments is that it turns out to be extremely cost-effective. For instance, here you don’t have to compulsory rent out an office space just to stay in the league. Employees can work from their homes and you can save a lot in terms of rent, electricity, internet connectivity and a lot more. Apart from price, remote work does have a positive impact on mental and physical well-being. 

Further, here you will come across some of the best collaborative coding tools to take into account especially when you are remote working. 

Top Collaborative Coding Tools

Let’s find out which will work wonders for your remote team. I assure you that all the below-mentioned tools can assist you well in communicating and coding effectively. 

#1 Cloud IDEs 

One of the best tools and technologies to take into account is cloud IDEs. These are basically online code editors which enable anyone to write, edit and debug different codes simultaneously. When we talk about collaborative coding, cloud IDE turns out to be the best option to consider. After all, it enables several people to work on the same code and of course, at the same time. 

#2 CodeSandbox Live

The next collaborative tool to keep in mind, especially for remote work, is CodeSandbox Live. As the name implies, here you can collaborate on your sandboxes and wondering how? Well, it’s done using the simple live feature. All you have to do is create a Sandbox live and Share the URL with different collaborators and you are done. Here right from editing to controlling who can edit at a particular time, in regard to file changes, dependency changes, and relevant selections. 

CodeSandbox Live is a robust free collaborative tool that offers unlimited private sandboxes and high-end support for private GitHub. 

#3  Remote Collab for SublimeText

The next crucial tool to keep in mind is Remote Collab for Sublime Text. Now there are times when development teams have their own preferences. For example, some software teams do not prefer Atom and if that’s the case then Sublime Text is worth considering as your text editor or code editor. Here remote collabo for Sublime text can provide seamless remote pair programming functionality. So what exactly is this remote collab? Well, it is basically an open-source plugin mainly used for sublime text. Wondering why?

Well, it is done to enable multiple developers to work in sync on a simple code. Now, this might seem pretty basic in the beginning but it’s quite necessary to create a strong foundation. In fact, here you can invite as many developers as you want all you have to provide them with your IP addresses. As soon as the guests arrive, the collaboration can begin. 

Remote collab should mainly take into consideration those who don’t want to leave SublimeText and are willing to add remote pair programming features in the nick of time. It’s worth considering. 

#4 CodePen

Another interesting collaborative coding tool is CodePen. Here much like other aforementioned collaborative tools, subscribers can seamlessly access the collab mode enabling multiple users to edit a single pen. And of course, all this is done at the same time. Only the owner is required to have a pen subscription. 

Every user that makes a significant amount of changes can be seen, and reflected in the collab mode. Here you may also find a live-chat area. It depends on the Pen’s owner whether he wishes to save the necessary changes made or not. In fact, CodePen is pretty much taken into consideration for running different troubleshooting sessions with a friend or let's say a colleague. Here you can conduct different interviews, and collaborate sincerely in other and hoc situations. 

#5 Tuple

Last but certainly not least, a collaborative tool to take into account is a tuple. It’s basically a remote pair programming app that is mainly used by MacOS users. Here developers are more likely to experience that they are sitting right next to each other. It is all about offering a seamless experience even if it is remote. After all, the connection and communication between remote workers have to be crystal clear or else you might have a lot to lose. 

Furthermore, Tuple offers everything or every possible solution with a simple click. Here you no longer have to share URLs and determine hosts and guests. Unfortunately, Tuple doesn’t offer a free plan, but a basic subscription starts at $35.  

Final Words

So this is all for now! I hope you did find the following post insightful and worth sharing with your peers. In case, if there is anything that you don’t understand, feel free to mention that in the comment section below.