Standalone pc for development

[Mehcanic]

Hi all. I'm not sure is it in right thread but I'll give it a try. 

 

I'm looking for mini pc for development environment on Linux advice. I don't know will I make vms on it or docker containers (both are new things for me). All I know is that I want to have access to it from my Mac or Windows laptop instead of configuring each laptop separately. What specs should I look for. Or maybe should I build it. I never used something like this before and I'm not sure what should I do. 

 

Maybe you have some advice on development workflow to minimise setup for my laptops.

 

Thanks all 

 

[SorryBella]

6 minutes ago, Mehcanic said:

All I know is that I want to have access to it from my Mac or Windows laptop instead of configuring each laptop separately.

Then literally any desktop, and equip said desktop with PiKVM. Its a much much much more attainable route to IPMI and doesnt take monthly sub like the normal remote desktop apps like Teamviewer or VNC. But yeah for WAN operation, you do have to go through some hoops to get it up and running.

 

[Guest]

Basically anything will work. 

 

If you get a semi modern desktop computer with an i5 processor and 8gb ram, you're good. 

 

If you MUST use a laptop, an Intel processor ending in H or HQ is good with 8 GB of RAM. 

You can get these kinds of laptops for like $200~$300.

 

I just use windows cuz it works. 

If you actually want to use Linux, knock yourself out. 

But if you see it's being a hassle, just get windows. 

[Mehcanic]

3 hours ago, fpo said:

Basically anything will work. 

 

If you get a semi modern desktop computer with an i5 processor and 8gb ram, you're good. 

 

If you MUST use a laptop, an Intel processor ending in H or HQ is good with 8 GB of RAM. 

You can get these kinds of laptops for like $200~$300.

 

I just use windows cuz it works. 

If you actually want to use Linux, knock yourself out. 

But if you see it's being a hassle, just get windows. 

I want to use this PC as a development environment and connect to it from my laptop. Something like Live Share in VSCode or Github codespace but more flexible.

 

For now I'm just looking for hardware as I will most likely try different software and solution. I don't like to buy twice and prefer to go for longterm options but I never used this kind of solution and I'm not sure how it will fit in to my workflow.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Mehcanic said:

I want to use this PC as a development environment and connect to it from my laptop. Something like Live Share in VSCode or Github codespace but more flexible.

 

For now I'm just looking for hardware as I will most likely try different software and solution. I don't like to buy twice and prefer to go for longterm options but I never used this kind of solution and I'm not sure how it will fit in to my workflow.

What? 

 

Why not just get one computer? 

If you're sitting next to a computer why have a second?

 

Are you concerned about compile times and want to program from your bed? 

If this is a concern, it begs the question to how big are your programs because you might be going overkill with two computers for development.

 

90% of programming is text editors which can be done on computers from the 70s. 

 

You'll have to be much more specific in what you're doing and what your current computer isn't doing. 

[Mehcanic]

29 minutes ago, fpo said:

What? 

 

Why not just get one computer? 

If you're sitting next to a computer why have a second?

 

Are you concerned about compile times and want to program from your bed? 

If this is a concern, it begs the question to how big are your programs because you might be going overkill with two computers for development.

 

90% of programming is text editors which can be done on computers from the 70s. 

 

You'll have to be much more specific in what you're doing and what your current computer isn't doing. 

I kind of have tendency to mess up my systems as I like to go deep inside. And switching from Mac to Linux from time to time is interesting for me. I also like to try new distros from time to time. The thing is that when I work on one project I want to keep it on one machine and use other machines to work on it. I don't want to setup my Mac, Windows and Linux (everytime I reinstall it) laptops for the same project. And when I will start working on another project I don't want to have any compatibility issues between them. It's for JS and Python. And will work as a backup storage for Google Drive.

I'm not really concerned about compile times. About the size of the programs I won't be able to say right now. I just finished GA bootcamp and starting to work on side project. Big in my mind but we'll see how it goes. 

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, Mehcanic said:

I kind of have tendency to mess up my systems as I like to go deep inside. And switching from Mac to Linux from time to time is interesting for me. I also like to try new distros from time to time. The thing is that when I work on one project I want to keep it on one machine and use other machines to work on it. I don't want to setup my Mac, Windows and Linux (everytime I reinstall it) laptops for the same project. And when I will start working on another project I don't want to have any compatibility issues between them. It's for JS and Python. And will work as a backup storage for Google Drive.

I'm not really concerned about compile times. About the size of the programs I won't be able to say right now. I just finished GA bootcamp and starting to work on side project. Big in my mind but we'll see how it goes. 

So are you asking how to use docker or are you asking what PC to buy?

 

As far as operating systems or whatever, you do you, but I just say use what functions. 

Windows and Mac works. Just about everything works with those. 

Mac is just more stable more supported Linux (don't at me, you know what I mean) so I'd just use that. 

 

If you are buying a computer to learn Linux, you can probably get something cheap on eBay or at some pawn shop or free from electronics recycler 

[Mehcanic]

29 minutes ago, fpo said:

What? 

 

Why not just get one computer? 

If you're sitting next to a computer why have a second?

 

Are you concerned about compile times and want to program from your bed? 

If this is a concern, it begs the question to how big are your programs because you might be going overkill with two computers for development.

 

90% of programming is text editors which can be done on computers from the 70s. 

 

You'll have to be much more specific in what you're doing and what your current computer isn't doing. 

I kind of have tendency to mess up my systems as I like to go deep inside. And switching from Mac to Linux from time to time is interesting for me. I also like to try new distros from time to time. The thing is that when I work on one project I want to keep it on one machine and use other machines to work on it. I don't want to setup my Mac, Windows and Linux (everytime I reinstall it) laptops for the same project. And when I will start working on another project I don't want to have any compatibility issues between them. It's for JS and Python. And will work as a backup storage for Google Drive.

I'm not really concerned about compile times. About the size of the programs I won't be able to say right now. I just finished GA bootcamp and starting to work on side project. Big in my mind but we'll see how it goes. 

[Mehcanic]

3 minutes ago, fpo said:

So are you asking how to use docker or are you asking what PC to buy?

 

As far as operating systems or whatever, you do you, but I just say use what functions. 

Windows and Mac works. Just about everything works with those. 

Mac is just more stable more supported Linux (don't at me, you know what I mean) so I'd just use that. 

 

If you are buying a computer to learn Linux, you can probably get something cheap on eBay or at some pawn shop or free from electronics recycler 

It will be a machine that will work as my cloud storage and to learn vms, docker and remote desktop. The only question for now what should I get to have acceptable experience when using it as virtual desktop. Will something like i7-6700 with 16gb ram and ssd work or is it already strong option to choose?

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Mehcanic said:

It will be a machine that will work as my cloud storage and to learn vms, docker and remote desktop. The only question for now what should I get to have acceptable experience when using it as virtual desktop. Will something like i7-6700 with 16gb ram and ssd work or is it already strong option to choose?

That system will work fine. 

Really good. 

 

Double check it can do virtualization and the motherboard supports that. 

[Mehcanic]

Just now, fpo said:

That system will work fine. 

Really good. 

 

Double check it can do virtualization and the motherboard supports that. 

Good info. Thanks. Didn't know that hardware can not support that.

[Guest]

17 minutes ago, Mehcanic said:

Good info. Thanks. Didn't know that hardware can not support that.

It might. 

 

I think the feature is something like V or something... That's the feature for virtualization. I think that CPU has it but idk. I think Your motherboard needs it too.