An iPad For Coding

A while ago I wrote an article about using an iPad with RStudio. There are more options these days, and I spend more time using web-based tools like Sagemaker.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an iPad for general coding?

Pros:

• The iPad Pro is lightweight and portable, making it easy to carry around and work on the go.
• It is versatile and can be used for a variety of tasks such as writing, spreadsheets, music production, video editing, and tasks that use the pencil, like note-taking, drawing, and photo editing.
• The large color screen of the iPad Pro is excellent for reading coding books, especially those with color syntax highlighting.
• The battery life of the iPad Pro is commendable, able to last for days without charging.
• Apple’s release of Xcode for iPad allows users to write and debug Swift code directly on the iPad.

Cons:

• The iPad Pro, when factoring in the cost of accessories such as the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, can be more expensive than a laptop that could have been used for more coding activities.
• The iPad Pro falls short as a coding device for users who need to run Xcode, VSCode, WebStorm, or IntelliJ.
• The keyboard shortcuts and operating system aren’t as power-user friendly as some would prefer, with certain shortcuts not working in specific apps due to how the app was coded.
• The screen size of the iPad Pro, even at its largest, may be too small for some users, especially those who are accustomed to working on a 15 or 16-inch laptop.
• The UI of Xcode for iPad is a bit cramped compared to the Mac interface.