[NTLUG:Discuss] XP/Agile programming over 'net

[Robert Citek]

On Thursday, January 22, 2004, at 08:43  PM, kbrannen at gte.net wrote:
> For the sharing, you can continue to use CVS & email; which works, 
> though a bit slowly.

True.  But it's not quit XP, which depends on immediate feedback to 
work effectively.

> An IM client might speed it up a bit.  But if you both (or more) have 
> a semi-high speed 'net connection, the ultimate is having one of you 
> running vncserver, then everyone using vncviewer.  That allows 
> everyone to see the same virtual desktop.  Your distro may or may not 
> come with those programs.  My Suse ones (8.2, 9.0, & SLES-8) do.

At an abstract level, I imagine that one would need two components for 
an interactive XP environment:
  - a shared working environment (e.g. vnc, screen, GnomeMeeting, etc.)
  - a communications method (e.g. phone, VoIP, IM, IRC, ntalk, etc.)

Also, at any given time, only one person is "driving" the shared 
environment while the rest watch.  However, the one who is driving 
should be able to hand over control to one of the other viewers at any 
time.  Furthermore, anyone should be able to join or leave at will.

I haven't played with VNC in a while, but how does this sound as a 
variation on that theme:  Instead of opening up a VNC on your own 
machine, SSH into a remote linux box using your own or some "generic" 
account and start a VNC server.  Then you and several others can 
connect to the linux box via a vncviewer in one window and open a 
communications channel in another.  Since the vncserver would be 
running on a remote machine and not tying up your workstation machine, 
you and others could join and leave at will.  However, how could one 
ensure that only one person is "driving" at one time?  Or is that 
really necessary?

So, vnc could be one solution.  Any other ideas?

Regards,
- Robert