Choosing the right Mac for development is one of the underrated challenges for the developers. Apple creates a whole range of desktop computers and Mac laptops but there are few that suits to better app development. Apple makes it incredibly easy to create an incredible apps for both the Mac OS X and iOS platform. Thanks to Swift and the popularity of the Mac platform to give the whole new way to exciting app development. In this article we take a look at what a computer requires to be truly great for creating apps, range of Mac computers available, and the custom built to order best options available for developers.
Which Mac to get for App development?
It is advisable for the new developers to go for the Mac mini with the AOC display. The Mac mini is a cheaper option than the iMac and the extra cash can be put towards software or training courses. There are many good software that’s better for developers. Here are some recommendations: Acorn, BBEdit, CodeRunner, Dev Color Picker, Dropbox, Evernote, Little Snapper, etc.
Apple diverges in power from the entry-level MacBook right up to the new Mac Pro.
Apple makes it easygoing to develop applicatioins for Mac OS X and iOS. The development environment used to create apps for both is called Xcode; with Xcode, you can build apps using two programming languages, the old Objective-C language, and the newer Swift programming language.
If you are willing to learn app development then all you have to do is get a regular app onto the app store using any Mac you want. If you’re an independent developer, creating a small iOS app then you can use just about any Mac and if you’re creating iOS apps you don’t need a fast processor, or a high-end graphics card. You don’t need to pay fee just to test and create apps, but Uploading and selling Apps value at $99 per year. You do need a Mac to develop apps for the iPhone and iPad.
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Coding is a complex and one of the complicated tasks which questions the coding environment because, you may be tempted to veer towards Apple’s pro line-up and more often it requires research and tracking. Coders often need to have various programs and windows open at once: web browser, the Xcode developer environment, SQL Database editor, text editor, and much more.
So if you want a Mac with a big screen, or you wish to attach a big screen to your Mac, apple’s Mac range for developers: Mac mini is best value at £399. The Mac Pro is overkill for most developers so the choice is between an iMac or Mac mini with separate display.
We also have a tutorial on simple noob ways to Force Quit Mac Applications and save time when an App on your Mac does not work.
Normally the idea with the Mac mini is that you attach an old display, keyboard and mouse and it represents top-flight Apple computing at a fraction of the cost. However, for better app development, it is suggested and advised to get a large display, so you might want to consider Apple’s 27-inch Thunderbolt Display. but, at £899 you might want to shop around. There is now a huge range of sub-£200 monitors that offer 27-inch displays. Some developers prefer picking up two 24-inch displays and placing them side-by-side.
If you are looking for a powerful Mac with a big display then Apple has you covered in the form of the iMac. You should get a model with a 27inch display, which starts at £1,449. It’s not as cheap 27-inch iMac is a veritable powerhouse: a 3.2Ghz Intel i5 processor, 1TB hard drive, discrete AMD graphics card with 2GB video memory, and of course that massive 27-inch IPS display.
Developers don’t need as many accessories as other Mac users. A good Mac, a decent sized display and a good reference library and you’re good to go. Do you wish to connect to a reputed and renowned mobile app development company? Contact this.
