Changing use of the term mob programming

[kish0620]

If you can, please replace the term mob programming with something like pair or team programming as the term might be harmful to some.

https://thenewstack.io/words-matter-finally-tech-looks-at-removing-exclusionary-language/

[allan-stewart]

I can definitely sympathize with this request -- I have given talks about mob programming wherein I felt compelled to say that it wasn't a negative or aggressive practice. Quite the contrary, in fact. I've found it to be one of the most inclusive ways to write code.

However, the problem is that if we replace the term then we might not be specific enough to allow people to learn about the practice which inspired this timer. There are published books, articles, conference talks, etc. that all use the term "mob programming". If we change the terminology of the timer, will people be able to connect back to the practice?

Pair programming is significantly different from mobbing and the timer is less useful in those situations (though not necessarily without value). I'm not sure what I'd say "team programming" is; I could see it being conflated with "we are a team of programmers that work individually" instead of "we work together on the same problem, at the same (virtual?) place, at the same time." The word team can mean very different things in how the members interact: for example, a bowling team vs. a soccer team.

I think my favorite alternate might be "group programming." It denotes more than a pair while recognizing that there are various forms of teams. But could group be taken in a negative way?

Even if we do find a better term for it, I am doubtful that changing the terminology of this particular repository will make a significant difference in the usage of "mob programming" in the industry. I think the community around this practice will need to change together, and until that time, changing the terminology on this repository feels like it would be more negative than beneficial.

If such a change does occur where the community changes the name of the practice, then I'd be very much in favor of changing the timer along with the movement.