You don't even have to offload the processing to a server unless you're working with a compiled language. Python/ruby/node/any other interpreted language plus PostgreSQL, plus a text editor like atom, plus a couple browser tabs should all run together just fine on a chomebook. I was comfortable running a setup like that 5 years ago a single core 1.6ghz atom netbook. Nowadays my cell phone probably has enough raw horsepower to run all that, compatibility issues aside.