How well does Xcode work (for iOS/macOS development) on a 14" MBP screen?

[dcarmichael]

I've been seriously considering a 14" MBP (coming from a 15" MBP) and am curious how well iOS/macOS development will work on a 14" screen.

Has anyone worked with Xcode on a 14" MBP, or is it too small (especially with the simulator on screen?)

Is there any way to move the SwiftUI preview window (and/or the simulator) to an external monitor?

 

[StellarVixen]

Not my cup of tea. I like large screen real estate. I used to do it on 13" MBP.

Was it doable? Sure, it was. Was it pleasant experience? Heck no.

Even 15" MBP was not enough for me.

But it might work out for you.

 

[neo_cs193p]

I use a 13.6" MBA screen when not at my desk (where I use a 4K 24" external display). It works well for me, but I do have to hide/show panes when I switch context. If you're curious how that works I suggest taking a look at the latest CS193P class (you can find it on YouTube). The instructor uses a 1280x720 effective resolution for his demos, and is very skillful at getting SwiftUI work done. If that looks doable to you, the 14.2" screen will be slightly more comfortable.

You can certainly move the simulator wherever you want, but I don't think the SwiftUI preview pane (canvas) is detachable from the Xcode editor. I use Command+0 to hide the left hand Navigator when I use the canvas, so I will only have the code next to it (trick also learned from the CS193P instructor).