Programming, Coding and Web Development Laptop Specifications

If you need to get a new laptop for programming or coding 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 actually two main paths they need to go through. If you’re doing front-end web development, you’ll 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. They may not seem like a lot, but they do 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 getting a gaming laptop if you’re going to be doing this kind of work. Mobile app developers will often need to run a simulation of their app running on the mobile operating system, which can consume a lot of system resources.

Let’s take a look at some of the recommended specifications 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 Core i3 or Core i5 dual-core processor. Back-end and mobile app developers should aim for at least a Core i5 quad-core processor, with Core i7 being the best option.

RAM

RAM or system memory helps the CPU to process everything smoothly. The more you carry your laptop, the better. Front-end work involves around 4-8 GB of installed system memory, since you’ll probably be using a code editor like Sublime Text and one or more browsers to check your work.

Mobile, game, and back-end developers should go for something with a little more punch. The minimum amount of RAM should be in the range of 12 to 16 GB. This is to make sure all your apps 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 usually cost much less, or get a laptop that comes with an SSD. An SSD is the newest type of storage option that doesn’t rely on spinning platters to store information and can be 10-12 times faster than a regular hard drive.

For front-end development work, a regular hard drive should suffice, but you can always look for hybrid drives that pack a bit of SSD technology into a regular hard drive. These are slightly faster than regular hard drives and 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 carries an SSD. This will speed up boot times and everything you run on your computer.

Operating system

This is another thing you will have to think about. Although Windows is perhaps the most popular operating system today, it is not the best option 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 also works with Windows being the last on this list. This is because you need to install different third-party software like XAMPP on Windows if you are going to do back-end work. You’ll need to install some of these on Ubuntu as well, but the process is much easier.

screen

The laptop screen is another important factor to consider. With so many resolutions available today, it’s hard to choose a laptop that’s 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 in many resolutions. For backend 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 you don’t need to constantly switch between applications when coding and checking output.

Battery duration

While most developers sit at their desk when coding with their 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, with their Air series even reaching 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.

The thing is, the more powerful a laptop’s hardware is, the more battery life is 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, speeding up the processor when the computer is not in use, etc.

If you’re sure you need a laptop with great battery life, that’s also powerful, but you don’t want to pay through the nose for a MacBook, then you should invest in a secondary battery that you can take with you when you’re on the go. .

In conclusion, if you have looked at all these aspects, you should have a pretty clear picture in your head of what your next laptop should look like.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top