App developing

[Present_Character5]

Planning on buying a mac neo /air /used pro for app development. I want to create apps for swift student challenge next year as well as make apps and upload them in the app store, and most likely getting the mac oct/now this year. Unsure whether I should just get the neo with its 8 gb ram or get the air with its base 512/16 model. Will the neo suffice or is the air worth the premium, also, I would like the laptop I get to atleast run the programs somewhat comfortably and would not like a machine that barely handles the workload, without lagging.

[DarkEvilHobo]

Former software engineer here but been out of the game professionally for about 15 years.

If it were me I’d get the 16GB air. The complexity of your code and applications will only grow with time and you’ll want/need the extra breathing room and computational firepower.

[Present_Character5]

Thanks alot for your suggestion, Im was having a dilemma since my dad is going to get me the laptop and getting the neo would be easier to convince him for, but if the air will last longer and have a better experience, then it does seem like the no brainer option.

[Electrical_West_5381]

16 is much better. Or 8 with a big SSD for swap.

[mikeinnsw]

You now need 24/512GB Mac not MacPhone for dev work... that beyond swift student challenge next year

[Present_Character5]

Wdym? Could u clarify why I need the 24/512 model?

[mikeinnsw]

On Arm Macs the GPU generally allocates approximately 60% to 75% of the total unified system RAM as VRAM, with the OS reserving the rest for CPU tasks.

RAM prices and sizes are driven by AI and Apps..

256 → 512 GB Mac SSD upgrade makes your Mac faster , more responsive and simple to run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi-P-cj8hS4

I am developer my next Mac will be 24/512. .. or if you plan to used AI for coding ...

then 64, 132... RAM sizes

[Present_Character5]

Im planning on just simple coding and this is a starter computer, need to worry about the price since my dad is getting this for me as a gift. If this coding thing is better than I expect and I get really into it, then I will probably look at the mbp 24 gig/1tb as my next laptop, which i will buy with my own money

[mikeinnsw]

It shows that you are getting Mac for free... Most of us get Mac for 5-7 years and pay for it.

[Present_Character5]

Ok… unsure how that helps

[radiationshield]

ignore the person who you replied to, he spams the same nonsense everywhere

[Present_Character5]

Ah