Best Mac for programming? So I would just like to ask what would be the best MacBook for a computer science degree at university, and then for programming in the future? Programmes such as python, C etc. Save hide report.
Which Mac should I buy to learn coding and programming?
Dec 14, 2021 The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is brilliant for creative workflows, but it’s terrific for programming as well. Taking the MacBook Pro to the ultimate level, this M1 Pro- or M1 Max-powered laptop. Best Mac for coding and programming: Best laptop for learning to code. The new MacBook is a stylish machine, and its Retina display is gorgeous. But it is expensive and small. The MacBook Air is a more cost-effective choice, offering a little more power for less money. We use a MacBook Air 11-inch to code, and it runs just fine. Oct 19, 2021 The M1 MacBook Pro models that creatives have been craving are finally here. We'll break down these new Apple laptops' specs, and answer the tough questions, like whether you should upgrade.
Hands-down, I’d say macOS. Linux is not mentioned in the question, so I won’t deal with that here. Here’s why you should get a Mac instead of a Windows computer:. Macs can run Windows too. Whether it’s in a virtual machine or using Boot Camp, Mac. Complete guide to coding & programming on a Mac: Best hardware. Finally you may want to consider what computer you use to learn programming. Learning to code on the Mac is the best step forward.
Learning how to code is a great idea: programming and coding is an increasingly important skill to acquire. And coding and programming are increasingly part of the school curriculum, so it's something to consider when buying a Mac for your family - which Mac would be best as a machine on which to learn coding?
The first thing we'll say is this: get a Mac over all other kinds of computer. Trust us on this. If you want to learn to code, you want to buy a Mac. Read our guide: Why programmers think Macs are best for coding.
We have lots of guides to learning to code, and you can discover a lot by reading our Complete guide to coding & programming on Mac article.
See also:
Which Macbook Pro Should I Buy For Programming The World
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Best MacBook 2016: Find out which Mac laptop is best for you
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Best MacBook 2016: Find out which Mac laptop is best for you
Best Mac for students 2016: Which Mac should you buy for university?
Best Mac for coding: Power requirements
The good news is that you don't need a powerful, expensive Mac to learn programming.
Many newcomers think that because programming is an advanced part of computing, they need an advanced computer. Actually, the opposite is true. Programming enables you to work closely with the hardware of a computer, and as a novice you're unlikely to place any demands on it.
Advanced app developers may have bigger requirements. See our Best Mac for app development feature if you already know how to program, and are looking to develop apps professionally.
But newcomers don't need a high-end Mac. Learning to code is much less demanding than using software developed by professionals. Compared to other activities, like video editing or playing video games, coding is an absolute featherweight when it comes to hardware demands.
In fact, the activity you do around coding, such as watching video clips on training sites and using interactive websites like Codecademy, are all going to be more demanding than coding itself.
Coding doesn't have heavy data requirements either. Apple's Xcode developer environment takes up a hefty 10GB of storage space, but that aside the programs you write will tend to be quite small.
So you don't need speed, and you don't need storage. What do you need to learn coding on a Mac?
Read next: Macmini vsMacBookAir: Which is thebestcheapMac?
Best Mac for coding and programming: Types of Mac
Apple currently offers six different types of Mac (three laptops, three desktops):
MacBook
MacBook Air
MacBook Pro
Mac mini
iMac
Mac Pro
MacBook Air
MacBook Pro
Mac mini
iMac
Mac Pro
You can learn to code on any of these machines, but each one offers different advantages. The first question is whether you want to learn coding on a desktop or laptop.
Macbook Vs Windows For Programming
Both are valid choices. Coding requires focus and concentration, so working on a desktop in a quiet room is a good idea. But you can do that just as well on a laptop, and still take your Mac with you when you need to work on the move.
Laptops are more expensive than desktops. The cheapest desktop (the Mac mini) starts at £399 while the cheapest MacBook is the MacBook Air (£749).
Best Mac for coding and programming: Best laptop for learning to code
The new MacBook is a stylish machine, and its Retina display is gorgeous. But it is expensive and small.
The MacBook Air is a more cost-effective choice, offering a little more power for less money. We use a MacBook Air 11-inch to code, and it runs just fine. The additional screen estate on the 13-inch model is a good investment, though.
The MacBook Pro 15-inch is the best choice. The extra screen estate makes it easier to view two or more windows at the same time. This is handy for learning as you'll often have a text editor, or IDE (Integrated Developer Environment) open alongside a web browser or PDF document displaying a tutorial.
We are currently waiting for Apple to announce a new MacBook Pro range though, and expect the new model to have a flash interactive LED function bar. So right now is not a good time to buy a MacBook Pro, if you can hold out until after October 2016 you'll have much better options all around.
Best Mac for coding and programming: Best desktop for learning to code
One thing developers have in common, is that they all value large screens (and having lots of screen estate). You'll often find developers using two, or three screens at the same time.
With this in mind we're going to rule out the Mac Pro. It's expensive for what it offers anyway, but for a beginner learning to code the Mac Pro is a vast expensive and absolute overkill.
That leaves you choosing between a Mac mini and iMac. There's a big price difference between the two, and if you have a spare monitor, keyboard and mouse we see no problem with the entry-level Mac mini for learning to code.
If you want to other tasks, like run design software or play games then it's better to upgrade to the mid-range Mac mini model. It has a much faster processor.
If you don't have any of the parts required for a Mac mini, then it's better to get an iMac. Buy the entry-level 21-inch or 27-inch Retina display is our advice. The larger screen is gorgeous and well worth the money.
Best Mac for coding and programming: Conclusion
You can learn to code on any Mac, so the best Mac you can afford is the one to get. But don't feel pressured to buy the latest Mac. In fact, you can pick up a pretty good deal on the refurb store. We've been seeing entry-level Mac mini computers for £339 lately, which is a great entry point for newcomers.
If we had to pick any Mac to learn to code with, it'd be the iMac with 27-inch Retina display. The huge screen estate makes it easy to run many programs at once. It has all the power you need and is a joy to behold.
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Is Windows or Mac better for programming? Another in a long line of questions about which of the two is better for what activity. The Windows vs Mac debate has been going on for as long as the two have existed.
When you choose a laptop for programming, it seems as though the internet is rife with opinion posts about which is better for what subject whether it be personal use, photo or video editing, web development, gaming, cat video playing, etc. Today, we take a look at whether Windows or Mac is better for programming. By the way, read this if you are unsure about a laptop or desktop for programming.
The Mac appears to hail as the go-to for software engineers but does it really stand out against Windows for programming specifically? The answer is not as simple as you might think.
Which Macbook Pro Should I Buy For Programming App
In short, this choice really comes down to the programming you will be doing and your own personal preference. Before we get into the breakdown between the two, there are a few things to remember when it comes to programming.
Best Mac For Programming
Mac Vs. Windows For Programming In 2020
Linux and UNIX
Linux and UNIX are very important to programming. Before Linux came UNIX. UNIX is an operating system and is crowned as one of, if not the best, operating systems ever created, so called for its stability, flexibility, and security.
Linux is an operating system as well, just like Windows and macOS and has become one of the most popular development operating systems available. It powers everything from your phone to your refrigerator. Linux is Unix-like, meaning it is similar in many ways to Unix despite not being the same. You must be able to run Linux on your laptop to be able to program. That being said, both Mac and Windows can run Linux just fine.
…UNIX called for its stability, flexibility, and security . Linux powers everything from your phone to your refrigerator ..
What Are You Programming For
The laptop you choose will also depend on what sort of programming and development you are working on. Simply stated, if you’re doing programming work for macOS, it will likely be easier on you if you have macOS running on your device; likewise with Windows.
Simply stated, there are some stacks which just work better with Windows and some that just work better with Mac. So, before choosing a platform to program on, first think about what sort of programming you are going to be doing.
Personal Preference
To be perfectly frank, this debate really comes down to personal preference. If you’ve been using Windows your whole life, don’t take this article (or any of the opinionated, indoctrinated debates you see online) as proof that you need to switch to Mac or vice versa.
Best Macbook Pro For Programming
There is really no right answer to this question and it all comes down to your needs as a programmer i.e. what and who you are programming for as well as your needs as a consumer of technology. So, relax and have fun! That’s what programming is about.
Familiarity Of UX
Mac laptops are versatile, high tech machines that can get the job done. They will be able to handle most any coding and programming work you do. Especially if you’re doing programming work for an Apple ecosystem, then a Mac is your best option.
Best Mac Computer For Programming
Almost any hiccups can be worked around using alternate software, apps, programs, etc. Some programmers claim that Mac will give you far fewer headaches than Windows when it comes to certain stacks or languages which may be true but the bottom line is your ability to program.
MacOS is Unix-like, meaning it is similar to, but not the same as, Unix and by extension, Linux. This means that development may just be a tiny bit easier and slightly less time-consuming on a Mac as compared to Windows.
Your Budget
The main drawback to Mac for the first time buyer is the price. Most new Macs range well over $2000 at the time of writing.
If you’re into programming as a career, Mac is definitely an option to consider for its programming ability and ease of use in certain stack development.
For casual programmers though, there are other, more budget-friendly, options available to you that will work for your purposes.
Best Macos For Programming
Do You Need Windows Specific Tools
With Windows, you would be developing on the platform used by the most users. Despite the Macs’ popularity in the media, Windows still reigns as the most used platform and thus the most developed for. You’ll find it more popular with software engineers who develop for the enterprise.
That being said, you can’t develop for iOS on a Windows computer so keep in mind the type of development you want to work on.
Windows is not Unix-like, as macOS is, but Linux can be run on Windows now and updates are being made relatively regularly to support it. This can bring Windows nearly up to the level of ease that a Mac gives with more compatibility and stability.
Stability Of O.S
While Windows is great for front end development, for back end developers, the platform can be a pain to use. You’ll be sitting through several hours of updates, drivers, installers, etc. to get a good system running but after that, you’ll find your development easier.
Does This Really Matter
While Windows may be better for some programming and Mac other, most all programming can be done on either with some workarounds. ‘Better’ (in terms of programming) here really means ‘easier’. Both types of laptops are very similar and you’ll find that programming ease often comes with practice and knowledge and not necessarily equipment.
Best Macbook For Programming
Conclusion
Macbook For Programming
Always keep in mind the type of programming you want to be doing and what your own personal preferences are when choosing between Mac and Windows for your programming needs.
Both types of laptops are very similar and you’ll find that programming ease often comes with practice and knowledge and not necessarily equipment. Always keep in mind the type of programming you want to be doing and what your own personal preferences are when choosing between Mac and Windows for your programming needs.
Resources
LINFO. Linux for Absolute Beginners, The Linux Info Project.
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Pez_93
macrumors newbie
Hi, today Apple has just updated the 13” MacBook Pro and I must choose what version of it should buy.
I'm studying computer science at university and I have to use the computer for programming (for example with Android Studio, Xcode, etc.).
Versions that I am considering are the following:
- i5 quad core 8th gen. 1.4GHz (up to 3.9GHz), Iris Plus Graphics 645, 16GB RAM, SSD 256GB
- i5 quad core 8th gen. 2.4GHz (up to 4.1GHz), Iris Plus Graphics 655, 16GB RAM, SSD 256GB
Which of these two should I take?
Should I also consider the 15”?
I'm studying computer science at university and I have to use the computer for programming (for example with Android Studio, Xcode, etc.).
Versions that I am considering are the following:
- i5 quad core 8th gen. 1.4GHz (up to 3.9GHz), Iris Plus Graphics 645, 16GB RAM, SSD 256GB
- i5 quad core 8th gen. 2.4GHz (up to 4.1GHz), Iris Plus Graphics 655, 16GB RAM, SSD 256GB
Which of these two should I take?
Should I also consider the 15”?