I have been using IPP 12.9 2nd gen with iPad OS for over a week, I am satisfied with such combination as a lightweight device for doing productivity work. However, I still need to buy a laptop as it cannot compile programs. How come? The CPU is too weak? Limitation of iOS? Even my 6+ years old Samsung tablet can compile some programs.
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iPad Pro Why IPP cannot compile programs?
- Thread starter hajime
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Not rocket surgery Limitations of ios that's it
You can use Pythonista to run python code and carnets for jupyter notebooks, but that’s all. For developing you need a computer (“what’s a computer?” 
). The iPad will not substitute a computer in the next years, even with iPadOS.
). The iPad will not substitute a computer in the next years, even with iPadOS.
Apple will eventually release their development suite for ios
Completely but I think if Apple is serious to make the iPad a replacement for laptops, this will be the next stepFor now it’s only a MacRumors speculation
You can use Pythonista to run python code and carnets for jupyter notebooks, but that’s all. For developing you need a computer (“what’s a computer?”
Sure it will. It does for me daily. For non-development activity (as you correctly note). And, in addition to the development apps you recite, you can do some limited development in Swift Playgrounds. SwiftUI may be the opening to more full scale development opportunities on the iPad.
Tbh its a step looong overdue. The "Pro" moniker is an overstatement without Xcode.
What about compiling C program or making iPP runs Linux which has gcc built in?
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I will need to go back to the loop of searching for a laptop again.
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You can use Pythonista to run python code and carnets for jupyter notebooks, but that’s all. For developing you need a computer (“what’s a computer?”
I will need to go back to the loop of searching for a laptop again.
Too bad... I used to regret buying the IPP but now I like it.
Need to keep an eye on those exciting new laptops to be released this month then.
Not every professional is a programmer / software engineer, much less an iOS engineer.
Agreed. However, it is hard to justify the "Pro" name if it cannot do basic stuff like dev work. A computing device that cannot do simple web development? No scripting, no Xcode? Nah, sorry, "Pro" is just a marketing thing here, and an unjustified that is.
Apple seems inconsistent with its very own view that the iPad is the "post PC" device of the future, a "Pro" device ... yet holding it back in software capabilities, assumingly in order to avoid cannibalizing the Mac.
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I don't disagree with the lack of serious programming capability (I am a web developer myself), but for many professionals like e.g. lawyers, teachers, doctors - it's sufficiently "Pro".
Frankly I could do web development on a Chromebook with Linux installed, doesn't need the word "Pro" in it. It's a marketing term, and to be fair, it does apply to a number of actual professions, just not software engineers. Not saying I agree it should stay that way, but it's a bit tiresome that the "can't be Pro because it can't do software development" angle is repeatedly brought up - it's really not an applicable argument.
I guess the term Pro changes over time. In Apple II era, those who had access to computers were programmers/geeks. I recall that I was the only one in the entire school had a laptop computer. Then Dell came in to sell cheap computers and PC became accessible to more people. Now you can see all sorts of people using computers everywhere...
Guess the real question is: if it can't do that for whatever reason, is it a computer, or, more specifically, is it a replacement for PCs/Macs. Imo the answer is no, because in my rulebook a computer is a versatile device that can run any software. The iPad can't, and as long as this situation persists I tend to negate the question if the iPad is the "Post-PC Era" device Tim Cook likes to talk about.
Anyway, the iPP is a great device, I really enjoy using it. Such a pity there is no Xcode for it, the hardware is clearly powerful enough
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^^^ That!
Agree 100% with you, you nailed it exactly. And I love my iPad Pro, but is nowhere a full substitute for my laptop.
So...is what makes it a “computer” the software or the hardware? Is the Raspberry Pi not a computer because it doesn’t run Windows? How about a Cray because it doesn’t run MacOS out of the box?
I think you know the answers to these questions.
Apple has intentionally linked the ability of the iPad to do certain things. Just like it has limited the Mac to do certain things and not others. Just like my hammer doesn’t remove bolts or my pliers don’t cut drywall. They’re still pro devices.
The fact iPads are limited in some way in no way makes them any less of a computer or a pro device
It’s just not a computer that does what you want or need it to do. The same cannot be said for others.
Anything with a CPU can be called a "computer" but not everything with a CPU is a "computer", at least for me. The iPad is a nice device, I own and use one, but for me is not a full "computer" like my smart thermostat is not a "computer" for me even that it has a CPU, Ram, etc...
I hope you understand exactly what I referring when I talk about a "computer". The iPad has the potential for becoming a "computer" with the right OS, and I pretty sure it will become in the future now that Apple has already saw the potential of the iPad and decided to give it the importance it deserves.
Many are though. Is this a race to the bottom? Some people can make a living with just Twitter so is any device that can run Twitter now "Pro"?
I think that is a somewhat specious argument. Some people use iMac Pro’s just to watch YouTube videos, does that make it any less a pro device?