Saros - Distributed Pair Programming

Saros is a Eclipse plugin for distributed pair programming. It features code editing in real-time, view port and text selection awareness and full project support. Saros is is free open source software, licensed under the GPL.

This goal is reached without sharing a complete computer or workspace but by a designated shared project in Eclipse.

Driver / Observer model: With Saros there are the roles of driver and observer in a pair programming session. The driver is the user with current modification control and session control. Only he can edit files but give this role to any other member.
The Oberserver(s) can see the view scope, open files and see selection of the driver. A "follow mode" will keep oberservers Eclipse be in the scope of the current scope of the driver. Oberservers can do selections which the driver can see.

Features:

• User list
  Add users to your friends list in Eclipse to see who is available and to add users to a shared project. Online awareness and chat is based on Jabber.
• File synchonisation and local work
  You don't work on the file system of remote computers but on pre-synchronized and live updated local files.
• Awareness
  Saros offers awareness on several levels. There is the mentioned contact list to see available contacts but also several displays in the IDE let you be aware of the actions and current work of the other members of the PP session.
  These include marks for current open files of the driver and current view scope, text selection of the driver and observers.
• Multi-User support
  Saros supports one driver and multiple observers in a shared project session.

For installation instructions, see the HowTo page.