Hello everyone!😁

Is a M1 (8gb RAM, 256gb storage) 13" macbook air good enough for coding?

This will be my first macbook, so I don’t know yet how I’ll like it. Would it run Linux (maybe Windows too) aside from ios? I’ve heard that it needs some workarounds. Would there be limitations running Linux?

🙂

  • FammasMaz@alien.topBEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    Why do you wanna run linux? Anything that youd want from linux, macos might be able to do that cuz both are unix based.

    If you do want to anyway, you can use orbstack to run the VMs

  • SergeiTachenov@alien.topBEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    I definitely wouldn’t go with less than 16 GB. I have 32 myself, but that’s for professional work on a rather heavy project.

    Also if you plan to run Windows/Linux, well, you’ll need more RAM for virtual machines.

    A bigger screen is also very useful, but it’s a tradeoff and not absolutely necessary.

  • wiseman121@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    For college/university absolutely 100%. 8gb is also enough providing you don’t plan on extensive machine learning or multiple VMs.

    For professional developer use I’d opt for a pro 16gb.

    • woowaswet@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      extensive machine learning or multiple VMs.

      Yes.

      I’m thinking about it right now before what I’m looking at becomes unavailable.

      Thanks!

    • jonne@infosec.pubEnglish
      11·
      1 year ago

      Pretty sure even in college you’d start running stuff in docker and the like these days. 8GB has been a ridiculously low amount of ram for 5 years now. You should get 16GB at least, preferably more.

  • rimakan@alien.topBEnglish
    11·
    1 year ago

    If it’s possible, get a 16 gb RAM model. It’s faster and won’t cause you any issues.

    Coding is a slippery slope. One day you want to code something basic, the next day you end up building something complex and demanding to the resources.

    By the way, I was in your shoes and I got 8 gb one. I regretted having acquired such a slow model when I took up coding.

    • woowaswet@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I ended up purchasing a Pro 16.2" with m1 pro and 16 RAM with 512 SSD. No additional warranty aside from standard 12-month defects and functionality warranty. Hope I won’t regret it until I’m able to upgrade to a better one when needed.🙂

      Thanks again!🖖

  • Quozca@alien.topBEnglish
    11·
    1 year ago

    It depends on what kind of “coding” you’re talking about. If you want to do some python, c/c++/rust it may be enough. If you’re planning to do full stack dev on Java and all the javascript framework hell you could end in some trouble if working on heavy projects, mainly because of the 8 gigs of ram

    Would it run Linux

    There is an experimental linux distribution far apple silicon processors called “asahi” linux, but it’s still in development.

    maybe Windows too

    You could run Windows ARM in a virtual machine but… Why on earth would you do that?

    • woowaswet@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Windows/Linux I’m familiar with. Apple os would be a first, so I was thinking having the option to run the previous 2 is important.🙂

      c/c++/rust Yes. But I was thinking of learning Java next.

      I’m looking at a macbook pro (refurbished) 13.3-inch m1 (16 RAM & 512 SSD) for 1200 €. But I was reading about the touchbar in that model saying that it should be avoided for security reasons. I don’t have the link, so I have to look it up now. I think I misread it.

  • jonne@infosec.pubEnglish
    11·
    1 year ago

    Linux support on the Apple silicon should be considered experimental, and unless you’re experienced with Linux you should probably avoid trying to run it (except in a VM). Windows probably won’t work at all (except in a VM). If you’re going to virtualise other operating systems, you’ll definitely need more than 8GB of RAM.

  • Ok-Confidence-6825@alien.topBEnglish
    11·
    1 year ago

    8gigs is not enough for coding imo. I had a m1 pro with 32 and running multiple chrome windows + 2 instances of pycharm and some other stuff it easily went to 20gigs of ram. You probably won’t have this need but you should get 16 at least.