16GB vs 32GB RAM for dev work: 32GB is the sweet spot for avoiding lag

32GB gives you breathing room under heavy dev loads — Docker, VS Code, and browser dev tools push 16GB to 90% usage, causing swap and slowdowns. With 32GB, you sit at 50-60% and can switch tasks without the beachball. It’s not life-changing for light work, but for real setups it’s a noticeable upgrade.