Macbook ME865 - Do I need 16GB of RAM?

Question

macbook

Hello!
I plan to take the device, but the dilemma is: to take a "stock" with 8GB of RAM or order 16GB?
Load - sublime text, pycharm/intelliJ/xcode, virtualbox/vagrant, maybe windows on parallels, sometimes lightroom.
Work - python, front-end, back and forth.
8GB - we can say the standard for today for comfortable work. But based on experience in linux, 8GB may not be enough. But Linux works differently with memory and I have an old hard drive, not an ssd.
Or be guided by the principle "there is never too much memory", take 16 and forget about this question altogether?
I plan to take for a long period of time (4-5 years).

Answer 1

I don’t understand what your memory is eating up like that, I worked on a Mac mini with a Core i5 4gb RAM and a 500 gb HDD. Launched XCode, Photoshop and Safari. It worked quite comfortably, nothing hung or slowed down, so I didn’t look at memory consumption, I can’t say how much it all ate.

Answer 2

there is only one opinion a lot of memory does not happen
you can take 16 take 16

Answer 3

If the budget allows, take 16. If with a creak - take 8, it will still be comfortable. On an SSD and a good processor, mac os x gives a much more comfortable user experience than Linux on similar characteristics and HDD. And on the SSD, probably, too, did not try.

Answer 4

8 GB is a living wage, both for Linux and MacOS. Well, that is, as soon as you start doing something serious, they will not be enough (especially if you start the virtual machine).
Either fight all the time, close everything superfluous, or set 16.
And ssd is a must have. An external drive is better to cling to USB3.

Answer 5

Taking into account the last suggestion about a long period of use, I advise you to take exactly 16gb and not even think about 8gb. Moreover, virtual machines are actively used in work.
I myself use 10gb with about the same list of applications on an MBP without an SSD and often feel lag due to swapping.