Quick question. Is the iPad Pro with M1 chip decent to do some hobby programming? Due to being bedridden, I have tried to use a phone but have yet to find a way to play with text files. The ecosystem overhead is enormous and all of it requires a computer.
I have run code in a number of langs but they refuse to access files I created, by hand.
I just wonder if you can use a 6gb tablet by itself? I started with 4k bytes back in the day. A million times the RAM should do something, right?

I don't know, man. I don't use tablets, let alone programming

A desktop (or at least a laptop) would be the best anyday. I don't know the kind of disability you have but having flexibility to install apps or even OS on a PC is the reason they are a hit among Devs

Get a Macbook Air

iPad is not great for programming. It's not about the performance, but about the software that Apple runs on it. You should probably be looking at a MacBook Air instead.

I’m pretty certain someone has gotten Debian running on an iPad at some point.

You should get a physical keyboard. While you can program on a touch screen and I know people who are fast enough to work with them, everybody agrees that it feels awful and gives you CTS so don't do it if you want to enjoy coding.

@asgs Been looking at it MacBook Air. Left hand is unusable and I feel very uncomfortable in a wheelchair unless tilted way back. Difficult to use keyboard or even see keys. Linux Mint's Accessibility program sucks. Often the shift and control keys work when they care to. Surely Apple's version would be better.
FAR prefer laptop to tablet but worry about theft in nursing home environment. Applies to both but not sure about tracking a laptop should it disappear vis a vis a tablet. Lack good diagnosis for leg condition. Kinda like restless legs on steroids. More upright I sit, the worse they feel.
Thanks for replying.

@30hrs I think your worry about getting stolen is valid but tablet or laptop the problem is still the same

I'm sure the world hasn't gone to such moral low grounds yet, so don't you worry about it (yet)

Happy Programming!