If you need to get a new laptop for programming or coding purposes and you’re not sure where to start, this short guide will help you find the perfect setup for your needs.
For web developers, there are two main paths to follow. If you are doing front-end web development, you will need a basic machine that can run a text editor and browser to check your progress. For back-end developers, things get a bit more complicated. You will need a laptop that can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, such as running a browser, a local server, and the code editor. These might not sound like a lot, but they require a lot of system resources, so make sure you pick a laptop that’s up to the task.
For game, 3D, or mobile app development, you’ll need a high-performance laptop that can render everything in real time. Consider buying a gaming laptop if you are going to do this type of work. Mobile application developers will often need to run a simulation of their application running on the mobile operating system, which can require a large amount of system resources.
Let’s take a look at some of the recommended specs for each of these types of development work.
Processor
The processor is the heart of your computer and by the number of cores and threads it has, it determines how many processes it can run well in parallel.
For front-end development work, you should be able to get away with a laptop that uses a dual-core Core i3 or Core i5 processor. Back-end and mobile app developers should aim for at least a quad-core Core i5 processor, with Core i7 being the best option.
RAM
The RAM or the system memory helps the CPU to process everything smoothly. The more you carry your laptop, the better. Front-end work involves about 4-8GB of installed system memory, as you will probably use a code editor like Sublime Text and one or more browsers to verify your work.
Mobile, game and back-end developers should go for something with a little more power. The minimum amount of RAM should be in the 12-16GB range. This is to make sure that all your applications work together smoothly.
Hard drive or SSD?
Every laptop needs to store and retrieve information. This is done by the installed storage device. You have two options here: get a laptop with a regular hard drive, which will typically cost a lot less, or get a laptop that comes with an SSD. An SSD is the newest type of storage option that does not rely on spinning disks to store information and can be 10-12 times faster than a normal hard drive.
For front-end development work, a normal HDD should suffice, but you can always look for hybrid drives that incorporate a bit of SSD technology into a normal HDD. They are a bit faster than normal hard drives and they don’t cost as much compared to SSDs.
For any type of programming that is above front-end development, it is recommended that you get a laptop that has an SSD. This will speed up boot times and everything else running on your computer.
OS
This is another thing you will have to think about. While Windows is perhaps the most popular operating system today, it is not the best choice when it comes to all fields of development.
For web development, you should try to code on a Linux-based operating system, such as Ubuntu. Mac OS works too and Windows is last on this list. This is because you need to install different third-party software, such as XAMPP, on Windows if you are going to do back-end work. You will also have to install some of these on Ubuntu, but the process is much more streamlined.
Screen
The laptop screen is another important factor to consider. With so many resolutions available today, it is difficult to choose a laptop that is right for programming.
Front-end developers will need a laptop that has a higher-than-average resolution screen, as they will need to test whether their websites are responsive to many resolutions. For back-end developers, this is less important. But what is true for both categories is the need for a secondary monitor. This can speed up development time quite a bit as there is no need to constantly switch between applications when coding and verifying the output.
Battery duration
While most developers sit at their desk when coding with the computer connected, if you feel the need to code on the go, make sure you get a laptop that has great battery life.
Macs typically have great battery life, and their Air series goes up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The thing is, the more powerful the hardware a laptop carries, the more battery life will be sacrificed. This is because powerful hardware consumes a lot of electricity. Most computers today have come up with ways to counteract this by dimming the screen, lowering the processor level when the computer is not in use, etc.
If you are sure you need a laptop with great battery life, which is also powerful but you don’t want to pay too much for a MacBook, then you should invest in a secondary battery that you can take with you on the go.
In conclusion, if you have gone through all these aspects, you should have a pretty clear idea in your head of what your next laptop should look like.