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Comment by prox | Hacker News Reader

I have been using an iPad as a remote workstation. Powerful enough, some great apps and a small package to carry around.

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What apps do you use on ipad for development?

I use Blink to mosh in to a server where I do my work through tmux, vim, etc.

I use Safari to view the stuff I’m building. There’s a Safari dev tools plugin which sucks compared to Firefox dev tools but it’s okay in a pinch.

I use NoMachine to remote into the graphical desktop environment of the server on the rare occasion I need to use a real browser.

That's cool. Didn't know Safari had dev tools on ipad. I did try blink. I wanted to get vscode running via SSH plugin from a vps but didn't have patience to figure it out. Then I realised I should just use my laptop.

You also have various dev tools as apps. What’s also nice is to use a VNC to get the power of my workstation when I am away. Another big selling point is the long battery life.

The vnc thing rocks. I've installed uis on cheap remote dedicated servers. I would do my satellite imagery exploratory work via VNC that way since up about 2018 internet was a big problem here. In server could download 10gb imagery at super speeds and play around qgis. Rented server generally faster than my laptop too and somehow only $49/month. Tight vnc is great at holding connection and low bandwidth.

I wonder though on vnc via ipad, how do you use mouse? I imagine touch support would be an issue in many desktop applications.

Recent version of iPadOS supports bluetooth mouse now: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211008

Ok that changes things. I just saw too some keyboard/case combos have touch pads below the keyboard. Anyone have any recommendations?

I really like the Logitech Slim Folio case with a separate small bluetooth mouse for when I need it. 98% of the time the trackpad would just be taking up space that I'd rather fill with keyboard. The times I do need a mouse, I probably want a proper mouse rather than a trackpad.

The different remote desktop apps (VNC, Nomachine, etc) have ways to translate touch events into mouse pointer movements/clicks. Not what you'd want to use for a serious CAD session, but fine for little things here and there to save pulling out the mouse.

I've had that "I should just use my laptop" moment many, many times. There are lots of things the iPad is objectively worse at than my very nice X1 Carbon running Arch. And yet I keep coming back to my iPad pro. I can't put my finger on what it is but I think it's some combination of:

1. Gorgeous high resolution, high refresh rate, generally pretty screen.

2. Long battery life.

3. Instant wake.

4. Ruggedness. Even with solid-state everything I'm always a little wary of chucking my laptop into the passenger seat of a car, taking it near sand or dust, etc. There's fan vents and hinges and... stuff. The iPad Pro in a Logitech Folio case has all the corners protected from drops, no airflow, few holes. I just don't worry about it.

5. Pencil. The handwritten notes experience has gotten really good. Being able to flick into that mode any time is nice.

I really liked Blink, paid for it, and then was forced to buy it again when they updated it, or get advertisements to upgrade. Really clumsy and annoying since the earlier version did everything I needed.

I went back to just using Prompt app, with tmux on remote servers.

They give you the new app for free if you paid for the old one now. Not sure if that's something they added later on but it's a thing now.

I've debated what I want to use for my next device. I've definitely considered getting an iPad as an option.

With iPadOS 26, StageManager, and when home plugging into a large monitor and using a Bluetooth mouse, this is indeed possible.

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