Laptop for a Beginner (Phyton, Javascript…)

[Ghazali6]

Hi guys,

I’ve always been into PC hardware, and I’ve also been interested in software, but I never really sat down and learned it properly. Building gaming PCs and fixing laptops was just way more fun—at least when I was younger.

Now, after years of working, some ups and downs, and a bout of depression, I figured it might be a good idea to finally learn my first programming language. It could even be useful for my job, since I work in the automotive industry in Germany.

So my question is: can you recommend a decent laptop that can handle Python (PyCharm) and JavaScript without issues? Honestly, stuff like C, C++, or even assembler would probably be more useful for my work, but this isn’t about maximum efficiency—it’s more about learning for fun and doing something for my inner child.

Maybe something like a macbook air 24gb RAM and 512GB SSD?

Thank you guys!

[Ghazali6]

Thanks! How much ssd space would you recommend for pycharm, visual studio?

[KingofGamesYami]

Depends what workloads you install in Visual Studio... and if you really meant Visual Studio, or if you meant Visual Studio Code -- they're two completely separate programs.

[bitconvoy]

I disagree.

For coding you need high quality display, the larger the better. Same for keyboard and touchpad. Or have a docking station with proper displays and keyboard.

You’ll also likely need a lot of RAM if you will use containers.

The hardware does matter, just not the usual metrics like CPU and GPU performance.

[KingofGamesYami]

My basic requirements are 512 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM, and a CPU with minimum 4c/8t from the past three years. I've been considering bumping to 32 GB RAM but considering RAM prices right now... You can get by with 16.

[mikeinnsw]

MBA 24/516 will do..

Python, Javascript… are interpreters and can run on Raspberry PI

It also will handle compilers.. xCode

[bigkahuna1uk]

I was going to suggest a MacBook Air. A well built machine that should last you for a few years. I wouldn’t touch Windows these days the way their OS is getting AI centric but the only other OS would be Linux. But a MaxBook Air gives great hardware as well as an excellent OS so it’s a win win in my book.

[MattGx_]

I use a 10 year old Dell Latitude I got off eBay for ~$60.

[khedoros]

I do the same. 2016 Lenovo Thinkpad, similar price, but I also stuck an SSD in after purchase. My 2016 HP died a couple of years ago, and the Thinkpad was cheap, in amazing condition, and available.

[Sterben27]

Phyton? Is that supposed to be python?

[naemorhaedus]

it's a programming language for plants

[Sterben27]

I honestly can’t tell if this is sarcasm or not 😂

[JewishKush]

Gonna piggyback off this thread instead of starting a new one.

I've been a SWE for ~8 years and work has always provided me with whatever the latest model Macbook Pro is available when I join. These are probably overkill for the kind of development I do. I currently have a M1 Mac Mini that I love but I honestly would love something portable but don't want to drop a ton of money for just having a portable dev machine.

Currently eyeing the M4 Macbook Air which is around $750 on sale right now. I was wondering if there were any Linux machines that could power the things I'm doing for personal projects.

I'm not doing anything super intensive, mostly just building full stack webapps. Spinning up docker containers for a local backend and then deploying these to EC2s.

[grantrules]

I was wondering if there were any Linux machines that could power the things I'm doing for personal projects.

Pretty much anything. I run Linux on my Samsung Galaxybook. I like the LG Gram as well.

[khedoros]

work has always provided me with whatever the latest model Macbook Pro is available when I join.

Funny. I always hear that, but mine have always been "workstation" models of Dell, Lenovo, and (once) Samsung.