Being able to "program" on a whiteboard is an essential skill in analysis and design sessions. I think it is very valuable to practice this, since it enhances your communication skills like few other things do.

Advantages of whiteboards:

• After discussion, consensus is left on a whiteboard - not fragmented items like on flip-charts
• Whiteboards are "public thinking screens"
• Moving around when working with a whiteboard opens up group discussion (people get more actively envolved)
• Whiteboards force you to work out the code / design in your head
• Very fast to draw on - lots of people "think visually"
• Make differences in what is being talked about explicit

Disadvantages of whiteboards:

• Slow to write on (compared to a good typists speed)
• No perl -de 42 there
• Make people shy since they need to stand in front of other people
• Can be wiped by ignorants without you noticing (easy: take a digital camera and make a snapshot)

So, all in all, if you are working in a team, you need whiteboards. If you are working alone, it depends on your style of personality.

Christian Lemburg
Brainbench MVP for Perl
http://www.brainbench.com

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