Macbook for programming
Posted by Zoro-88@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Hello, im an SE student need to get a new laptop would a macbook be suitable enough? I see people praising it (the M chips) id probably get an M4 for being so effective and being the best laptop on the market for productivity. I was always a windows guys and i know macbook isnt compatible with everything. like (.NET). I dont work with that technology but i dont wanna get a new laptop and it not be working with some technologies or stuff i need. Also accepting recommendations for other laptops
Rain-And-Coffee@reddit
Mac is amazing for programming.
Been using it for several years for work.
fuddlesworth@reddit
WSL2 is better. Macs are so anti user.
PlanZSmiles@reddit
They aren’t anti-user, you’re just as capable of being a power user on Mac as you are on Windows. Only people who say this are folks who never got comfortable using a Mac.
Mac/Gnome minimal, out of your way, more focus on the task at hand and keyboard-centric. Windows/Kde more customizable. A bit less consistency among apps. Not as keyboard-centric.
Source: a professional that has programmed on both windows and Mac.
fuddlesworth@reddit
I've used macs for over 15 years. I have an M4 Macbook pro with 64gb of ram. Here's 2 examples of being anti user off the top of my head.
Apple keeps changing how system limits can be permanently set. With cursor running, intellij running, and app running I can easily run out of file handles. I can set it manually and end up crashing my M4 several times a day. No one on my team has figured out how to permanently set it or a permanent solution. I either deal with crashes or running out of file handles and then vpn/browser/slack/etc crash. Don't have that problem elsewhere.
Turn off Bluetooth. The Mac will still detect Bluetooth headphones and spawn Apple music.
PlanZSmiles@reddit
Hmm I haven’t experienced 1. But I’m also not running our main product local.
By chance, is this what you’re referring to? I likely will bookmark this in the case I ever come across the issue. https://hiltmon.com/blog/2023/01/01/increasing-file-descriptor-ulimit-on-macos/
fuddlesworth@reddit
Yeah. That method doesn't work in the latest OS sadly.
learnprogramming-ModTeam@reddit
Hardware questions are explicitly off-topic here as per Rule #3.
Post removed
PlanZSmiles@reddit
OP get what you want. If you feel you’ll be using the laptop for many years then the Mac is a better buy. If you suspect you’ll be away from a charger more often than not then m4 Mac is the better buy.
You might not know how to use one but you’ll likely have to learn at some point. My team originally was on windows but I pushed for Macs as it’s a personal preference (still use windows for my desktop machine at home) and my senior dev ended up getting one as well. Since it’s just the two of us, if we ever were to hire a junior or new dev we would request our hardware provisioning team to give you a Mac to make it easier to onboard since we basically would just replicate our setup for you.
fuddlesworth@reddit
Long time developer. I have a high end m4 for work. I fucking hate apple. I'd rather use windows with WSL2.
Zoro-88@reddit (OP)
Could you elaborate a little?
no_regerts_bob@reddit
Stick with what you know. Why learn a new OS while you're trying to learn programming? A Mac isn't going to give you any advantage over the windows systems you're already familiar with
Zoro-88@reddit (OP)
Im already a junior just need a new laptop, just wondering what will be the best laptop for the price, because the macs resell value will be more in a few years than a window machine if i decide to sell.
grantrules@reddit
Try /r/SuggestALaptop
YasirTheGreat@reddit
Buy a refurbished thinkpad that was top of the line 5 years ago, dual boot into linux mint. You'll have everything you need to get through college.
Macbooks are great for professional work if you are willing to dump 4 grand into them, and have it be your workhorse for 8 years. But you don't want to constantly have it on you on campus, and stressing about dropping it or spilling something. And you won't need the processing power either.
So yea, I would say a refurbished T series, with 32 gb of ram and make sure there is a basic warranty. You will have a tank of a laptop.
Traditional_Crazy200@reddit
That's exactly what I did half a year ago and i couldn't be happier. Well, I did completely wipe my windows including the bootpartition, but obviously don't do that lol
WangoDjagner@reddit
I did a course where I had to team up with someone with a macbook. We had exercises that required you to use some specific libraries that were not available for the new apple silicon so we had to do everything together on my laptop. Of course that's just shitty resources from the university but that's how it is sometimes.
Gawd_Awful@reddit
Almost any modern laptop will be fine for what you’ll be doing for probably your entire school career. And there are always work around for compatibility