32GB is the sweet spot for IDEs and containers

Yes.

If you’re running multiple IDEs (VS Code, IntelliJ, Rider) and a handful of Docker containers, 32GB is where you stop thinking about memory. 16GB works if you’re disciplined about closing tabs, but the moment you have a heavy Java project, a Node server, and three database containers, you’re hitting swap and your laptop sounds like a hairdryer.

IDEs are memory hogs. IntelliJ alone can chew 4GB after a day of use. Add a browser with a dozen tabs, Slack, and Docker Desktop reserving another 2-4GB, and 16GB becomes a bottleneck. Containers also don’t share memory efficiently — each one has its own overhead.

32GB gives you room to breathe. You don’t have to micromanage what’s open. You can leave your dev environment running overnight without your machine grinding to a halt. If you’re doing serious Kubernetes or running multiple full-stack environments locally, 48GB or 64GB isn’t overkill, but 32GB is the best bang for the buck.

Your future self running four IntelliJ projects at once will thank you.