I'm considering getting a second-hand MacBook Air M4 with 16GB of unified memory primarily for programming purposes. I already have a powerful Windows desktop, but I thought it might be nice to have a laptop for coding. The MacBook has 256GB of storage, and I plan to get an external 1-2TB SSD for extra space if I need it. I have a couple of questions: First, can I develop Windows desktop applications like I do with Visual Studio on my Windows machine? Second, is 16GB of RAM sufficient for my coding needs? I currently use 64GB on my desktop and would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
Buying a Mac just for Windows applications seems a bit tricky. Different OS and frameworks can create unexpected issues. If you're using VMs to run Windows development tools, 16GB may not provide a smooth experience since running both systems requires a lot of RAM.
If you're working with .NET Core for cross-platform development, you'll be fine. But if you're focusing on Windows-specific apps, that's a no-go without a VM. And honestly, I think 32GB of RAM is the new norm for development. Why compromise?
I get your point, but isn't 16GB good enough for most tasks? I've managed pretty well with that amount for basic apps.