iPad as a Primary Productivity Tool: The Future Game Changer in IT
The iPad, especially the iPad Pro series, has evolved beyond just an entertainment or lightweight office device thanks to its powerful hardware, specially optimized iPadOS, and a rich software ecosystem. More and more IT professionals are starting to use the iPad as their primary production tool. Whether in programming, network management, or system operations, the iPad can deliver a productivity experience that's close to what you'd find on a desktop.
1. Powerful Hardware Meets Portability
Since the launch of the iPad Pro series, Apple has been consistently enhancing its hardware capabilities. The iPad Pro, equipped with M1 and M2 chips, offers processing power comparable to that of a MacBook, making it easy to run complex applications. Its portability allows IT professionals to handle various tasks anytime, anywhere, whether it's debugging code, managing servers, or connecting remotely to office networks. The iPad's lightweight design, long battery life, and 5G support provide IT workers with even more flexibility for mobile work.
2. Optimized Touch and Apple Pencil Functionality
The touch controls on the iPad and support for the Apple Pencil not only make everyday tasks like note-taking and sketching more efficient, but they also assist in IT work scenarios that require quick manual actions, such as building mind maps and architectural designs. The split-screen feature and multitasking capabilities in iPadOS significantly boost efficiency during development and operations, providing a user experience similar to a desktop that makes working with multiple windows much smoother.
3. Rich Application Ecosystem
The iPad boasts a wide range of professional-grade apps that cater to various IT production needs. Whether it's development IDEs, remote desktop control, or cloud management tools, there are suitable solutions available on iPadOS. As developers continue to optimize these applications, their functions and usability are gradually aligning more closely with desktop-level software.
Recommended iPad Apps for Desktop-class Experience in IT
1. ShellBean
Overview：
ShellBean is a fully-featured SSH and SFTP client that supports iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It integrates monitoring and script automation tools, allowing users to easily manage Linux servers.
The latest updates have introduced split-screen and broadcast keyboard input functionalities for the terminal on the iPad. You can quickly set up horizontal or vertical split screens from the menu, or choose other servers for split-screen, and move the split layout by long-pressing the top bar. This significantly enhances the iPad's capabilities as a tool for development and operations. For system administrators and developers who frequently use the command line, it’s an incredibly productive tool.
User Experience：
Multi-Platform Support and iCloud Sync：Compatible with iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, it offers a consistent user experience and securely syncs data via iCloud, ensuring seamless access across devices.
Powerful Monitoring Features：Provides detailed monitoring of CPU, memory, network, and disk usage.
External Keyboard Support：With an external keyboard, it supports a range of shortcuts, delivering a keyboard input and desktop-level experience.
Integration with iPadOS：ShellBean can also integrate with the Files App on the iPad, allowing file editing with other iPad apps. Users can edit files on the server directly using third-party text editors. This integration makes it easier for users to manage project files.
Desktop-class Experience：
The SSH experience provided by ShellBean rivals that of desktop-level terminals, significantly enhancing the iPad's practicality as a server management tool. Its outstanding performance and rich features make it one of the top desktop alternatives in the field of remote management and system operations. 
2. Blink Shell
Overview：
Blink Shell is a terminal app designed specifically for iOS devices, featuring Mosh (Mobile Shell Protocol) to deliver an exceptional remote server management experience. For IT professionals who need to access and manage servers on the go, Blink Shell is an essential tool, offering a powerful SSH terminal experience on the iPad.
User Experience：
Support for SSH and Mosh：Blink Shell not only supports standard SSH but also integrates Mosh seamlessly. Mosh keeps the connection stable even in unstable or high-latency network conditions, making it especially useful in remote work environments. Unlike traditional SSH connections, Mosh automatically reconnects after a disconnection, which is a huge convenience for mobile working, especially in scenarios with frequently changing network conditions.
Integration with Other Development Tools：Blink Shell supports integration with multiple development tools, allowing users to edit files on the server or debug applications directly through the app. Additionally, it's compatible with cloud storage services like iCloud Drive and Dropbox, making it easy for users to quickly back up and sync configuration files.
Desktop-class Experience：
The SSH experience offered by Blink Shell is easily comparable to that of desktop terminal apps, and with Mosh's stable connection, it significantly enhances the iPad's practicality as a server management tool. Its performance and feature set make it one of the top choices for desktop-level alternatives in remote management and system operations.
3. Koder Code Editor
Overview：
Koder is a full-featured code editor that supports multiple programming languages and includes common IDE features like syntax highlighting and code autocomplete. It's perfect for IT professionals who need to do lightweight development, debugging, and code management on the iPad.
User Experience：
Multilingual Support：Koder supports a wide range of programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, PHP, and Ruby. Its syntax highlighting and code completion features provide developers with an experience similar to a desktop IDE on the iPad. While it may not be as powerful as desktop IDEs, it meets most development needs and is particularly efficient for writing front-end code or debugging small projects.
FTP/SSH Integration：Koder allows developers to connect to servers directly via FTP and SSH, enabling quick editing of code on remote servers. Combined with other remote management tools like ShellBean, users can build a complete development environment on the iPad, even debugging and deploying projects in real-time.
File Management and Version Control：Koder's built-in file management system is clean and intuitive, supporting integration with multiple cloud storage services for easy import and export of project files. Additionally, it supports Git version control, allowing users to commit, push, and merge code during development, making code management more efficient.
Desktop-class Experience：
As a lightweight code editor, Koder offers a powerful enough programming experience on the iPad, especially for those who need to develop in a mobile environment. While its features may not be as detailed as those of desktop IDEs when handling large projects, the core functionalities it provides are more than sufficient for everyday development needs.
The advantages of the iPad as a productivity tool are being recognized by more and more IT professionals. Whether it's for development, server management, or system debugging, apps on the iPad can now provide an experience close to that of desktop-level tools. With the remote management capabilities of ShellBean and Blink Shell, as well as Koder's code editing experience, IT practitioners can efficiently complete their tasks on the iPad. In the future, as iPadOS and professional applications continue to improve, the iPad will play an even more important role in the IT field, becoming an indispensable part of productivity tools.