What laptop should you choose for a developer?

Are you hiring a developer for your company and unsure which laptop to choose to equip them best? We're here to help you see more clearly, even if you're not an IT expert!

Baptiste Pételle

Chief of staff

Are you recruiting a developer for your company and unsure about which laptop to choose to best equip them? Let us help clarify things for you, especially if you're not an IT expert! This article covers all the characteristics to consider when selecting the most suitable equipment, ensuring your developer can work under the best conditions.

Choosing a Laptop for a Developer: Practicality and Efficiency

Desktop or laptop?

With the rise of remote work, laptops are now favored for equipping developers. There are many models available today that are powerful enough to meet their needs. The laptop is usually supplemented with a second screen. Opt for a desktop for onsite profiles who need a particularly powerful model. You will likely need to provide a laptop as well if your employee also works remotely.

MacOS, Windows, or Linux?

Your collaborator can code and program on any operating system. MacOS is essential if your collaborator is to develop applications for MacOS. It is also the consumer operating system that is closest to the operation of Linux. This allows developers to have an environment as close as possible to the one where their code will run in production.

Windows is essential for developing in .NET. Having been around for several decades, Windows is compatible with many different software and development tools. Linux is the most suitable system for very specific uses. It is the most customizable operating system: it can be fully configured and even used without any visual interface.

Key technical specifications to prioritize on a laptop for a developer

Which processor?

What is it?

The processor defines the number of instructions (commands) that the computer can execute each second. The more powerful the processor, the faster the computer will be at heavy tasks. Note that this does not change the speed of downloading pages and files - which mostly depends on the quality of the internet connection.

Which one to choose?

For a developer, opt for a very powerful processor that will allow running a suite of resource-intensive tools. The M1 and M2 processors for MacBooks are perfect for high-speed execution, or Intel Core i5 or i7 for Windows laptops.

What about RAM?

What is it?

RAM is the computer's working memory. The higher its capacity, the faster the computer will be and capable of running a large number of software or applications simultaneously.

Which one to choose?

Opt for a minimum of 8 GB or 16 GB of RAM, ideal for the use of several software programs that use a lot of space.

What storage?

What is it?

Storage is the component of your computer that allows you to save files, download applications, and perform updates.

Which one to choose?

Prefer an SSD drive, now present in most models, ideal for storing the operating system (Windows, MacOS) and frequently used programs. Faster than mechanical disks, the minimum recommended size is 320 GB for a developer. Ideal for ensuring the speed of system boot, code compilation, application launch, and project loading.

Which Screen?

It is imperative to provide your web developer with a large screen, and even two screens. He will indeed be programming, researching, testing his application or website, using different windows at the same time… You can opt for: A laptop accompanied by a second screen, ideally at the office or at home, to combine practicality, ergonomics, and productivity. Some might prefer their laptop to have a large screen, in this case, choose at least a 15-inch model.

What graphics card and what resolution?

What is it?

The graphics card is a component of the central unit that allows the production of an image displayable on a screen. The resolution indicates the pixel density of an image.

Which ones to choose?

A standard graphics card is sufficient, very often already integrated into computers. On the majority of current computers, the processors consist of cores already dedicated to managing the display of the image on the screen. (This is the case for the new MacBooks M1 and M2). For more advanced uses such as 3D, machine learning, or crypto, it can be useful to have a powerful external graphics chip. For programming, it is not necessary to have a screen with a huge resolution and optimal quality. A standard and classic screen suffices.

And accessories?

To maximize the comfort of your collaborator, do not hesitate to provide them with: A computer stand: to prevent them from spending their day hunched over and to position the computer at the right eye level. An adapted keyboard: you can also opt for an ergonomic keyboard which will allow your collaborator to adopt a better posture and avoid wrist pain. A second screen: essential for this job profile, adding a second screen to the workstation will allow both viewing the code being written while keeping an eye on documents useful for development. A nice mug for their coffee ;)

In summary:

A laptop or desktop with a second screen
An operating system suited to the development of your product, site, or application
A screen of at least 15 inches for a laptop
An M1 or M2 processor on Mac, Intel i5 or higher on PC 8 GB or 16 GB of memory
A standard graphics card often already integrated
A minimum storage space of 320 GB (SSD format is a plus)
Accessories to promote the comfort of your collaborator