With coding becoming an increasingly popular career choice, it’s no surprise that developers are constantly searching for ways to optimize their laptop’s performance.
One common question that arises is whether or not 32GB of RAM laptop is necessary for coding.
In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of having 32GB of RAM as a coder, and help you determine if it’s worth the investment.
32GB RAM laptop is necessary for coding if you are working on resource-intensive programming tasks such as machine learning or large-scale data processing. However, for basic coding tasks and web development, 16GB or 8GB of RAM would suffice.
Factors to consider when determining how much RAM is needed
Let’s have a look at some of the factors that you need to consider when deciding how much RAM is necessary for coding.
These factors will make it easy to decide whether or not a 32GB RAM laptop is necessary for coding.
The type of coding software you use: As mentioned below, specialized coding software like Unity and MATLAB require more RAM than text editors like Notepad++ or Sublime Text.
The size of your projects: The larger your project, the more memory it will require. If you’re working on a small project, 8GB of RAM may be sufficient. However, if you’re working on a larger project or multiple projects at once, you may need 32GB of RAM.
The operating system you’re using: Different operating systems have different RAM requirements. For example, Windows 10 requires at least 4GB of RAM, but 8GB or more is recommended.
Multitasking: If you tend to have multiple programs open at once while coding, you will need more RAM to accommodate them all. For example, if you have a web browser, coding software, and email client open at once, you may need 16GB or more of RAM. You will also need higher processing power to accommodate your multitasking needs.
Budget: Of course, your budget will also play a role in determining how much RAM you can afford. While 32GB of RAM may provide future-proofing, it’s also more expensive than 8GB or 16 GB.
Do you really need 32GB RAM for coding?
If you’re working with specialized coding software, they take up a lot of space. Hence you will need 32GB RAM. On the other hand, if you’re working on smaller projects or using less-demanding coding software, you may find that 8GB of RAM or even 4GB is sufficient.
By specialized coding software, we mean software like Unity and MATLAB which will need approximately 32GB to function efficiently. Some of the less demanding coding software which doesn’t use a lot of memory are text editors like Notepad++ or Sublime Text. These will work fine with less than 32GB RAM as well.
As technology advances, software requirements are continually changing, and what may be sufficient today may not be enough tomorrow.
Investing in 32GB of RAM could provide you with the longevity you need to keep up with future demands.
However, if you are on a budget, there are loads of coding software that will need less than 32GB of space.
List of coding software that requires 32GB
We have discussed a few software that need 32GB memory. Here we will provide you with a detailed list of those programs.
Later on, we will also provide you with a list of software that needs lesser RAM.
Unity: Unity is a popular game development platform that requires a lot of memory to function efficiently. The recommended system requirements for Unity include 16GB of RAM, but 32GB or more is recommended for larger projects.
MATLAB: MATLAB is a high-level programming language used for mathematical computing, data analysis, and visualization. It requires a lot of memory, and as such you need 32GB to run the software without a lag.
Adobe Creative Cloud: Adobe Creative Cloud includes several software applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro, that will require 32GB. Some of the software might function well with lesser RAM but in order to fully take advantage of the suite of Adobe creative products, 32GB is recommended.
Android Studio: Android Studio is a popular Integrated Development Environment (IDE) used for developing Android apps. It requires a lot of memory to run smoothly, and the recommended system requirements include 8GB of RAM. However, for larger projects, 32GB or more may be necessary.
Visual Studio: Visual Studio is a popular IDE used for developing applications for Windows, Android, and iOS. It requires a lot of memory to function efficiently, and the recommended system requirements include 8GB of RAM. However, for larger projects, 32GB or more may be necessary.
List of coding software that don’t need 32GB space
Visual Studio Code: Visual Studio Code is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It’s lightweight and requires only 1GB of RAM to run, making it a great option for smaller projects.
PyCharm: PyCharm is a popular IDE for Python development. It’s a bit more demanding than some other code editors, but it still only requires 4GB of RAM to run.
Eclipse: Eclipse is a popular IDE among Java developers as it only requires 512MB of RAM.
NetBeans: NetBeans is another popular IDE for Java development. It’s lightweight and requires only 512MB of RAM to run, making it a good option for those on a tight budget and can’t afford expensive laptops.
Sublime Text: Sublime Text is a popular code editor that’s lightweight and customizable. It requires only 1GB of RAM to run.
Notepad++: Notepad++ is a free, open-source code editor that’s lightweight and requires only 256MB of RAM to run. It’s a great option for smaller projects or for developers who prefer a simple, no-frills code editor.
Benefits of 32GB RAM for coding
Although there are a range of software that can run on less than 32GB, having 32GB space has loads of advantages over lesser memory.
Let’s explore those advantages.
Better performance: With more RAM, your laptop can handle larger projects and run specialized coding software more efficiently without experiencing lag or crashes.
Improved multitasking: If you are the kind of developer who tends to have multiple programs open at once while coding, having more RAM can help your laptop handle them all without slowing down.
Future-proofing: Investing in 32GB of RAM can provide you with the longevity you need to keep up with future demands as software requirements continue to change and become more demanding.
Virtualization: If you are running multiple virtual machines, 32GB RAM will help you to run them more efficiently without any hiccups.
Is there a difference between 16GB and 32GB of RAM for coding?
Yes, there is a difference between 16GB and 32GB of RAM for coding, but the extent of the difference depends on the specific use case. For basic coding tasks, such as writing code in a text editor or compiling small projects, 16GB of RAM should be sufficient.
However, if you work with large codebases, use resource-intensive development environments or tools, or run multiple virtual machines, you may benefit from the extra memory provided by 32GB of RAM.
How much RAM is essential for running Python?
A minimum of 8GB of RAM is recommended for Python but the actual requirement depends on the specific task you intend to perform with Python.
How much RAM is required for a coding laptop?
For basic programming tasks and web development, 8GB of RAM should be sufficient. However, if you plan to work on more demanding projects such as machine learning, data analysis, or video editing, you may need 16GB or more of RAM
Final Verdict
So is 32GB RAM laptop necessary for coding?
Well, as you read that while 32GB of RAM may not be necessary for all coders, it can benefit those working with large datasets or running multiple programs simultaneously.
However, it’s essential to balance your needs with your budget and choose a configuration that suits your specific requirements.
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[…] In such cases, you can consider upgrading to 16GB RAM or even 32GB. […]