Originally Posted by
tmiw
I have a 13" MacBook Pro and as a developer, it works okay for me. I do use whatever macOS calls their virtual desktop implementation quite a lot, though, and bumped up the display resolution as high as the default OS will let me go (I haven't tried any of the hacks that would let me go higher).
That all said, I'm considering going 16" next time around for the separate GPU, but it also depends on whether I hold out long enough for an ARM version of the 13" to become available (and how well its GPU performs).
For me, starting at a 13" screen all day would definitely hurt my eyes. If I "zoomed" in, then I'd have less real estate to use and that's precious as it is on a single screen. Wouldn't matter what OS I'm using. That said, mobility-wise, a 13" laptop is probably a good one if you want to change locations regularly. I don't think Starbucks or McD would be too pleased to set me set up a 17" laptop (or 15") with a 15.6" secondary monitor on one of their tables.
As for the ARM version or not, depends on your lifetime with a given laptop. They said it will take 1-2 year transition everything to Apple silicon, but I would assume a 7-8 year support lifetime for the laptop (at least OS-wise). At least that's what they have done in the past. App vendors would likely give it at 5-7 years to support both Intel and ARM versions (that or risk pissing people off who invested huge amounts of cash into their macs)... since you have a MacBook, I don't think you're likely to be in a rush to buy a new one (depend on age of course). If I were to advise my friends, I'd say wait to see if they have a 13/14" MBP come closer to the end of the year. If they do, then decide between the recently refreshed MBP (which should have come down in price) or get the new MBP...
At least that's how I would do this.