Having used several AR/VR headsets primarily for entertainment, the Apple Vision Pro's seamless integration of a virtual MacBook Pro screen sparked a question: can it be used for actual software engineering work? This article details my experience using the Vision Pro for a week, focusing on coding, collaboration, and productivity, to answer this question. This is not a review, but rather an examination of its suitability for software engineering tasks. I purchased the device myself.
Evaluating the Vision Pro for Software Engineering
I paid close attention to three crucial categories:
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Coding: How well does the Vision Pro facilitate coding tasks?
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Collaboration: Can it enhance collaboration through meetings, presentations, and design discussions?
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Productivity: Does it offer productivity boosts as a supplemental device?
The goal was to determine if the Vision Pro excels in at least one of these areas, justifying its use for software engineering.
Coding with the Vision Pro
Limited Native Coding Capabilities
Out of the box, the Vision Pro lacks native coding apps. While it supports iPad apps, I haven't found iPads suitable for serious coding, so the Vision Pro didn't change my mind. It's not designed to tap into its computing power for coding tasks.
Using the Vision Pro as an External Display
The primary benefit for coding is its ability to serve as a large, immersive screen for a MacBook Pro. Apple's ecosystem integration shines here, seamlessly transitioning the MacBook Pro's display into a sharp virtual screen.
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The screen rendering is intelligent: the area you're directly looking at is rendered at high resolution, while peripheral vision is rendered at lower resolution, mimicking natural human vision.
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This provides a sharp and comfortable coding experience for extended periods.
Limitations of the Virtual Screen
The biggest drawback is the limitation to a single screen. Unlike using an iPad as an extended display, the Vision Pro cannot utilize the MacBook Pro's built-in screen simultaneously.
I would have preferred the ability to drag individual applications, like Visual Studio Code, onto the Vision Pro's virtual space and resize them for an immersive, focused coding session, while keeping other applications on the MacBook Pro's screen. Hopefully a future revision will include these features. For now, you are stuck with the single screen.
Missing Remote Desktop App
The lack of a remote desktop app is another drawback. I use Windows for some development tasks and hoped to have both my MacBook Pro screen and Windows desktop accessible within the same virtual space.
Coding Conclusion
Currently, the Vision Pro offers a high-resolution, immersive virtual screen that can enhance focus during coding. However, limitations such as single-screen support and missing apps restrict its potential for serious coding work.
Collaboration with the Vision Pro
Persona and Communication Platforms
Collaboration heavily relies on communication, so I tested the Vision Pro with existing platforms like Teams and Zoom. A key element is the Persona, a digital representation of your face. While reflecting actions quickly, the Persona appears unnatural and somewhat "creepy." Apple acknowledges it is a work in progress.
The good news is that the Persona works with major communication platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. It displays facial expressions adequately.
Typing and Whiteboarding Issues
Typing within collaboration apps is best done with a physical keyboard. The Whiteboard feature on Zoom is currently unsupported on the Vision Pro. Whiteboard sessions are not visible, which is a problem for collaboration.
Collaboration Conclusion
Beyond attending meetings with a peculiar Persona, the Vision Pro doesn't offer significant advantages for collaboration at this stage. Integration improvements are expected in future updates.
Productivity with the Vision Pro
Vision Pro as a Supplemental Productivity Device
The Vision Pro's potential lies in enhancing productivity as a supplementary device rather than a complete replacement for existing workflows.
Envisioned Scenario
Imagine a scenario where you work on a single screen, and when multitasking becomes challenging, you put on the Vision Pro. This creates a virtual space for various tasks: triggering deployments with timers, setting pomodoro timers for focused work, taking quick meetings, and entering immersive coding sessions.
Enhancing Existing Workflows
The Vision Pro has timers, email apps, and communications features available in the virtual space, so it has the potential to supplement your current workflow.
After work, taking off the Vision Pro clears the clutter, leaving a clean desk and a single screen for a fresh start the next day. The Vision Pro can then be used for entertainment, gaming, and movies.
Productivity Conclusion
While the Vision Pro isn't fully there yet, future updates and app development could unlock scenarios where it significantly enhances existing workflows, not replaces them.
Overall Assessment
Impressive Technology, Limited Value for Software Engineering
The Vision Pro boasts impressive technology, including eye and hand tracking, high-quality pass-through, excellent ecosystem integration, and broad iPad app support. However, its capabilities for coding, collaboration, and productivity are currently limited. It's not a standalone unit for software engineering work.
A Sidekick, Not a Replacement
It can serve as a useful addition to the Apple ecosystem as a sidekick to boost productivity. For this purpose, it's the best headset I've used.
The Price
The biggest drawback is the high price. It's the most expensive headset I've used, and the added cost doesn't justify the extra benefits, particularly for software engineering. It doesn't provide the meaningful value to justify the high cost, especially for professional software development.
Final Verdict
I cannot recommend the Vision Pro for work, especially in software engineering. It's a first-generation product that offers a glimpse into Apple's vision for the future.