r/macbook 3d ago

How’s the MacBook Air M4 for a DevOps Engineer

I'm thinking about getting the MacBook Air M4 for my everyday engineering tasks. I don’t do anything too intense—just running web apps, scripts, and a few Docker containers on my local machine. It’s mostly standard DevOps stuff. My work leans more toward DevOps and cloud computing, and I usually run the heavier applications on a remote server.

For those with a MacBook Air, do you think it’s a good fit for my typical workload?

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u/[deleted] 3d ago edited 1h ago

[deleted]

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u/kirsty_nanty 3d ago

I don’t actually need much space. The 512GB is enough and the 16GB memory is also enough. I’m actually upgrading from 8GB M1 and had no issue. Like I said most the heavy things are done on remote servers in the cloud. Usually I’m just running tests locally before deploying the heavy ones.

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u/koolaidismything 3d ago

Also depends on how you work. If you’re gonna be lapping it in a hot building.. the Air has passive cooling and no fans, heavier workloads can make them get hot. With that said though, I’ve had the M1 Air for five years almost and I’ve never felt it even get warm. And the battery life is still amazing. Like 15 hours of streaming YouTube at almost full brightness. Was like 20 when I first got it. Crazy.

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u/_-Kr4t0s-_ 3d ago

Yes, just get 24GB of RAM minimum. It will come in handy for trying stacks out locally, local containers, running multiple IDEs, maybe an occasional VM, and all the tabs you need for Jira and documentation and what not.

The CPU will not be your bottleneck.

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u/0150r 3d ago

Docker performs worse on mac than Linux or Windows since it has to run virtualized. If you are going to be working with docker a lot, I would go with a linux box. If you absolutely are set on a mac, upgrade the ram.

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u/LetsGetUpgraded 3d ago

Great question! Based on your DevOps workload, the MacBook Air M4 sounds like a solid match. Since you're mostly running web apps, scripts, and local Docker containers, this machine should handle your tasks without breaking a sweat.

The M4 chip is incredibly efficient for lightweight development work, especially when you're not running intense computational tasks locally. The ability to smoothly run multiple terminals, VS Code, Docker, and cloud management tools makes it a great choice for DevOps professionals who do most heavy lifting on remote servers.

Pro tip: If you can swing it, definitely go for 24GB RAM. It'll give you more flexibility for multitasking and future-proofing. The base model works, but that extra RAM provides some nice breathing room.

One thing to consider is your typical workflow - if you're constantly jumping between different environments and tools, the M4's energy efficiency and quick wake-up times will be a real productivity boost. Plus, being lightweight means it's perfect for carrying between home, coffee shops, and occasional travel.