Guide: Live Collaboration
We use Visual Studio Code: Live Share for live collaboration and pair programming.
You should have Visual Studio Code installed and configured.
You’ll also need a GitHub or Microsoft account to login. (Create one now if necessary.)
Note
In our experience, Live Share works well even on 200 Kbps internet connections.
The first time you start or join a session with Live Share, you will be prompted to login to GitHub or Microsoft. Follow the prompts to do so.
Settings
Before using Live Share for the first time, you should check your Settings in Visual Studio Code. Open up
. From the left pane of Settings, select .I recommend the following, although you are encouraged to adjust these according to your own preferences:
Account: (Leave as is)
Account Provider: (Leave as is)
Allow Guest Debug Control: No
Allow Guest Task Control: No
Anonymous Guest Approval:
prompt
Auto Share Terminals: Yes
Code Lens: Yes
Comments: Yes
Connection Mode:
auto
Diagnostic Logging: No
Feature Set:
stable
Focus Behavior:
accept
Guest Approval Required: Yes
Increased Guest Limit: No
Join Debug Session Option:
Automatic
Keep Alive Interval: 20
Allow Guest Command Control: No
Name Tag Visibility:
Activity
Populate Git Co Authors:
always
Presence: Yes
Publish Workspace Info: Yes
Shared Terminal Height:
50
Shared Terminal Height:
120
Share External Files: Yes
Show In Status Bar:
always
Show Read Only Users In Editor:
always
Show Verbose Notifications: Yes
Starting A Session
To start a session, in which you are the host, open the Live Share pane by clicking its icon on your Activity Bar at left.
Select Start collaboration session… to start a new session. Once the session is started, a link will automatically be copied to your clipboard. Provide it to whomever you wish to have join the session.
If you have previous collaborators under Contacts on your Live Share pane, you can also invite them directly. However over the name of someone you wish to invite, and click the Invite Contact icon.
When you’re done, you can stop the session from the Live Share pane. Hover over Session Details at the top of the pane, and select Stop Collaboration Session.
Joining A Session
To join a session hosted by someone else, you must have the Live Share URL they provided to you, or else you must be invited directly through Visual Studio Code.
Open the Live Share pane by clicking its icon on your Activity Bar at left.
Select Join collaboration session… to join a session. If you’ve already copied the URL for the session to your clipboard, it will automatically be pasted in the box that pops up. Press Enter to confirm.
It will take a few moments to join.
When you’re done, you can leave the session from the Live Share pane. Hover over Session Details at the top of the pane, and select Leave Collaboration Session.
About Pair Programming
At MousePaw Media, we encourage pair programming using Live Share. This is a technique where two developers work together on the same code. It provides an amazing opportunity to exchange knowledge, build communication skills, and to get a fresh perspective on your code.
The Driver is the programmer doing most of the actual typing. The Navigator is the programmer reviewing the code as it is typed, and providing live feedback.
The pair can work on either the driver or navigator’s code, although they should determine well in advance whose code sector to work on.
To make the most of your next pair programming session, I recommend reading 7 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Pair Programming
Happy collaborating!