

I knew just the place to go: CodeSandbox. Unlike on the Pixelbook, where I wanted a full-on Rust development environment basically comparable to my Mac setup, I decided to just do some JavaScript-based web development on my iPad. Under the hood is the same Unix kernel that makes macOS excellent for programmers. It’s ironic because the iPad is excellent for creators in so many ways like drawing, design, and music.
Offline pages pro review javascript software#
It makes a little bit of sense: the strictures of iOS and the App Store are why a years-old iPad is vastly more responsive and cruft-free than a similarly aged MacBook Pro.īut it makes developing software nearly impossible. Chapter 1: The journey begins by lowering my expectationsĪs everyone knows, Apple is scared to death that anyone might ever run arbitrary code on one of its pristine iOS devices. I can’t promise you it’s a worthwhile destination, but I learned a lot on my way there. Will I ever actually use it for this purpose? Maybe! But we’ll get to that.įeel free to follow in my footsteps if you, too, wish to code on the iPad. Unfortunately, it’s very bad for complex tasks and intentionally crippled for software development.īut I’m older and wiser now, and after an entire Saturday spent bashing my head against a wall, I’m happy to report that I can use a $799 tablet computer to write software. It’s super portable, has great battery life, an excellent screen, and the limited multitasking keeps me focused. I love using the iPad for writing and other creative work. It wasn’t easy or simple or straightforward, but it worked in the end: I had all the power and flexibility of Linux, access to my favorite code editor (VS Code), and, of course, the slick web browsing experience that Chromebooks are known for.Īround that same time, I attempted to set up an iPad for coding. A few months ago, I detailed my process for setting up a Pixelbook to code on.
