iOS MBA 13" Mid 2011 to slow for Xcode 9.3?

[SD449]

Hi

I am trying to work my way through a iOS Programming Course on Udemy but my laptop seems to be running hot and loud whilst struggling along.

I only have Messages, Finder, Safari (1 Tab for the course) and Xcode open.

I only have 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD with over 20GB Free (but I do see the disk storage pop up from time to time and doesn't make sense to me.

Any help would be very much appreciated TIA

 

[xStep]

It’s likely that the real issue is your lack of RAM. I would expect the system to be creating virtual memory to try to keep up to the demand of the apps opened. This means that 20GB is being reduced, potentially to zero.

You can use Activity Monitor in the Applications/Utilities folder to review your memory constraints. Tap the Memory button when you open it.

Being a MacBook Air, I think you do not have upgrade options for the memory, so you’re stuck if you don’t upgrade.

 

[SD449]

It’s likely that the real issue is your lack of RAM. I would expect the system to be creating virtual memory to try to keep up to the demand of the apps opened. This means that 20GB is being reduced, potentially to zero.

You can use Activity Monitor in the Applications/Utilities folder to review your memory constraints. Tap the Memory button when you open it.

Being a MacBook Air, I think you do not have upgrade options for the memory, so you’re stuck if you don’t upgrade.

Thank you for your reply

So if I upgrade I want to have as much RAM as possible?

 

[BigMcGuire]

I can run XCode on my 2015 11' Macbook Air (4GB of RAM) without a problem (I haven't done anything really complicated). I'd look at the Activity Monitor and find out what is using most of the CPU.

More ram is always better but much more expensive!

 

[PhoneyDeveloper]

8 GB of RAM will be adequate. 16 GB will be more than enough.

Having an SSD is also very helpful.

 

[xStep]

Thank you for your reply

So if I upgrade I want to have as much RAM as possible?

Yea, if you upgrade, get at least 16GB. I say this having had a system with 8GB and having problems compiling a particular Project on it.

I believe many of the newer Macs make it difficult or impossible to upgrade, so you order what you need. My minimum is 16GB. If I can get 32GB on my next Mac I will. I’d rather have too much RAM rather than too little and be swearing about it when I hit the limits.