4 ms·

"It eludes me why any developer would be using anything other than a laptop." Based on my own experiences, here are a few reasons that I can think of: + Has a

by Spyro7 15y ago

"It eludes me why any developer would be using anything other than a laptop." Based on my own experiences, here are a few reasons that I can think of: + Has a setup that involves 3 or more screens + Needs to use 2 or more hard drives + Likes the idea of having a video card that can be easily upgraded + Likes the idea of having a processor that can be easily upgraded + Needs to have two or more video cards + Needs to have two or more optical media drives

nknight 15y ago
My laptop can use 3 or more screens. My laptop can use 2 or more hard drives. Why does a developer need to upgrade the video card in their laptop? What is it they're doing? There are a lot of developers, and a fairly small set of them care about fast graphics. Why does a developer need to upgrade their processor more than every few years? What is it they're doing? For the relatively rare developer that still has long compiles to deal with, why doesn't their company have a build farm? Why does a developer need two or more video cards? What is it they're doing? Again, most developers are not in gaming or other high-end graphics work. My laptop can use two or more optical media drives. Laptops are not a little black box with zero expandability. Ports exist for a reason.
- bullseye 15y ago
  >> why doesn't their company have a build farm? I've seen you reference this multiple times now. Based on experience as a consultant, I think you are giving most companies (or at least their IT dept) way too much credit.
  - nknight 15y ago
    Well, I've referenced it twice, but it's an important question. Most companies have no need of build farms, the code the developers build simply isn't that big, and definitely doesn't need the latest hardware to be done quickly. I would definitely expect companies with massive projects to have build farms, even if the developers have to take matters into their own hands.
- corin_ 15y ago
  "Why does a developer need to upgrade ....?" Because while development might be a use, or even the primary use, of a machine, it doesn't mean it is the only use. Some people will want to watch videos, some play games, some just want the newest hardware to feel good about themselves, there's a bunch of reasons.
  - nknight 15y ago
    With a company-issued desktop sitting in your office... Why are you playing games? Anyway, my laptop is my one and only front-and-center machine, used for development, gaming, videos (why you brought that up, I have no idea, since it takes hardly any power at all), etc., and I have no performance problems.
    - corin_ 15y ago
      Well in my case the answer would be "because I'm bored" (though I actually have a laptop at work, and a desktop at home, So I'm playing games with a company-issued laptop in my office). But there are plenty of developers (on HN in particular) for home "their machine" isn't just something that is in their office for work use, but is what they have for personal use as well (maybe they're freelance, maybe they work for their own startup, whatever).
- gaius 15y ago
  Laptop + docking station == desktop PC.

by Spyro7 15y ago

nknight 15y ago

My laptop can use 3 or more screens. My laptop can use 2 or more hard drives. Why does a developer need to upgrade the video card in their laptop? What is it they're doing? There are a lot of developers, and a fairly small set of them care about fast graphics. Why does a developer need to upgrade their processor more than every few years? What is it they're doing? For the relatively rare developer that still has long compiles to deal with, why doesn't their company have a build farm? Why does a developer need two or more video cards? What is it they're doing? Again, most developers are not in gaming or other high-end graphics work. My laptop can use two or more optical media drives. Laptops are not a little black box with zero expandability. Ports exist for a reason.

bullseye 15y ago
>> why doesn't their company have a build farm? I've seen you reference this multiple times now. Based on experience as a consultant, I think you are giving most companies (or at least their IT dept) way too much credit.
- nknight 15y ago
  Well, I've referenced it twice, but it's an important question. Most companies have no need of build farms, the code the developers build simply isn't that big, and definitely doesn't need the latest hardware to be done quickly. I would definitely expect companies with massive projects to have build farms, even if the developers have to take matters into their own hands.
corin_ 15y ago
"Why does a developer need to upgrade ....?" Because while development might be a use, or even the primary use, of a machine, it doesn't mean it is the only use. Some people will want to watch videos, some play games, some just want the newest hardware to feel good about themselves, there's a bunch of reasons.
- nknight 15y ago
  With a company-issued desktop sitting in your office... Why are you playing games? Anyway, my laptop is my one and only front-and-center machine, used for development, gaming, videos (why you brought that up, I have no idea, since it takes hardly any power at all), etc., and I have no performance problems.
  - corin_ 15y ago
    Well in my case the answer would be "because I'm bored" (though I actually have a laptop at work, and a desktop at home, So I'm playing games with a company-issued laptop in my office). But there are plenty of developers (on HN in particular) for home "their machine" isn't just something that is in their office for work use, but is what they have for personal use as well (maybe they're freelance, maybe they work for their own startup, whatever).
gaius 15y ago
Laptop + docking station == desktop PC.