this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2024
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Linux + ARM laptop: good enough for programming? Or should I get a MacBook? (self.linuxhardware)
submitted 1 month ago by rolling_resistance to c/[email protected]
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I'm a software developer with a platform-independent stack (java / postgre / mysql / intellij / docker), I use a Linux distro. I have a workstation, but would like to be able to work away from home. Good battery life, small size, staying cool under load are the priorities; I don't need a lot of power. So I thought maybe I should try ARM?

My first idea was to get a [refurbished] MacBook Air and learn how to use MacOS, although I'd love to support something... less proprietary and more open. I've never used an ARM Linux distro or ARM laptops, and I'm not sure how good they are for my application.

What is your experience?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Up to you but if you can get a refurbished m1 that will easily do what you need

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

And honestly still probably be better in every way besides the OS (subjective)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Brew or Nix do a pretty good job of closing the gap.

I'm the only Linux user on my team and was getting pissed at Apple's old bash (4.x something) and some of the tools like find having slightly different flags causing some scripts to not work locally.

Added a nix flake + devshell + direnv and now they run the same version the servers do of everything, but only when in the project.