what's the smallest device to do Rails development on???

rubyonrails-talk
1

Hi,

What's the smallest (lightest / most compact) device that one could use to do relatively productive Rails development on? Ideally something you could carry in your pocket (i.e. I'm thinking smaller/lighter than a MacBook). I'm assuming here you don't have connectivity to the internet (i.e. not just terminal emulation to a server).

So it would need:

MANDATORY * Ability to run Rails/Ruby (./script/server, ./script/console) * Text Editor * Browser with javascript/css support

NICE TO HAVE * Storage for full Rails, Ruby API doco * A couple of Rails/Ruby PDFs

thanks

2

Hi,

What's the smallest (lightest / most compact) device that one could use to do relatively productive Rails development on? Ideally something you could carry in your pocket (i.e. I'm thinking smaller/lighter than a MacBook). I'm assuming here you don't have connectivity to the internet (i.e. not just terminal emulation to a server).

Something like a nokia N810 internet tablet maybe ? Or depending on the size of your pocket and assuming you actually do your development sitting down at a desk that already has a keyboard/screen then something with a mac-mini like form factor

Fred

3

Not quite pocket-sized, but you could look at the various "netbooks", e.g. ASUS Eee PC. Much smaller than a Mac, runs Linux, etc.

The gating factor 're "productive" is the keyboard; I got a Eee PC 900 for a trip, and my fingers are just too big for it -- obviously YMMV.

HTH,

4

I use an eeepc 900 running Fedora, with Netbeans ide. (Fedora 10 now includes Netbeans in the package repository, and now supports wireless out of the box).

Don't try it with windows though, just too slow. But Fedora actually running on the external SDHC card works well for me.

Dual screen handling is pretty cool too, providing the OS can recognize the screen (HP monitors work well).

I have a PAYG 3 Mobile dongle which I take everywhere with me along with the eeepc using a large camera bag. With openvpn, I can remote connect to a client and fix a problem from virtually anywhere at anytime.

Touch typing on the keyboard is possible and actually require less finger movement which as you get used to is less RSI risk. Mostly though I just plug in a usb kb and mouse.

Tonypm