This depends on several factors. The requirements of every programmer are different. For example, a game developer may require higher graphical performance than a web developer. If you are in web-development stuck with PHP/CSS/HTML/JS, then the i3 line can shine easily as it doesn't require high specs. If you are in the field of app/software development stuck with C, C++, Swift, etc., then you'll require at least four cores. In this case, we would recommend the Ryzen 3 4300U as it provides four cores at the same price. Game developers also need to juggle between the design tool and the game. So, to run such software, they need a dedicated graphics solution. The 10th-generation option arrives with new onboard graphics and four cores that can outstrip their older counterparts.