The timeboxing technique well known in Italy as Pomodoro technique is going international. My friend Matteo Vaccari had a speech at the xp days Benelux 2007. Online slides are on slideshare.
The original paper from Francesco is also now translated in English.
I’ve tried the technique and wrote also the mobile timeboxing app. I found it useful and valuable with unskilled xpers but more a drag than a benefit on more experienced / high focus capable people. Interrupting can be really annoying.
I see a big value on the time is passing consciousness but instead of a fixed, mechanical time machine I prefer to have an event based boxing. The typical cycle write the test, write code, run the tests, commit is enough.
And you: what do you think? Give a feedback to the guys!
One Comment
I found out that the pomodoro technique makes me more productive. Can’t really speak for others but for me it is really great.
I don’t know for sure, but it seems that a 25+5 pomodoro run actually interrupts me when my concentration just about stops to drop, but is still near the peak. When I’m away from my computer during the break time, my mind is now free to focus even more the concepts I was dealing with when I went on break. Therefore I start to come up with solutions that I really couldn’t think about while I was focused on typing code or drawing.
The only rule I impose on myself is to leave the computer alone immediately when break time starts (not even surfing, not even a peek at YouTube). I’m allowed to play music, relax or eat.