Too easy to pair? Then automate it!

"We don't pair all the time, some things are so simple they don't need it". I have lost count of the number of times I have heard this.

It's undoubtedly a seductive idea. Something done multiple times that is so easy that one person can do it, without error, guaranteed. But it is in fact a very subtle process smell, one so subtle that it's easy to overlook/justify.

If something is so simple that an individual can do it without error, guaranteed, it is a prime candidate for automation. Take some time and care (and pair) to free up developers so they can focus on what they're best at - things that require creative thought. Don't waste any more time on the dull and scriptable than you need to.