Using an existing JupyterLite deployment

If this is the first time you hear about JupyterLite, you might want to first try it out.

How is JupyterLite different than JupyterLab?

If you’re using a JupyterLite site, there isn’t much to know. It works like a regular, server-backed JupyterLab site, except:

• The list of kernels, usually visible from the Launcher as different Notebook flavors, will be different. See the Kernels section below.

• Your data is written to in-browser storage

  • though you may be able to copy

• None of your data leaves your browser unless…

  • Extensions are installed and enabled, and send data to external services

  • Your Notebooks include code that uses the browser’s fetch mechanism

Using JupyterLite

Using JupyterLite is simple: just visit the URL of a deployment in a web browser!

There are a couple of public-facing JupyterLite instances out there, with different sets of extensions, packages and content:

• The JupyterLite main site, built on top of the main branch of the jupyterlite repo, deployed to ReadTheDocs: https://jupyterlite.rtfd.io/en/latest/try/lab. In fact it lives really next to this current documentation, and you can launch the different interfaces via the Try buttons in the top left corner of the page.

• The JupyterLite demo repository: https://github.com/jupyterlite/demo. This repo can also be used as a template to create a your website, see the quick-start guide to learn how to deploy your own.

• The Try Jupyter deployment: https://jupyter.org/try-jupyter/lab/

A deployment can have one or more applications available.

Applications

JupyterLab

JupyterLab is the next-generation user interface for Project Jupyter offering all the familiar building blocks of the classic Jupyter Notebook (notebook, text editor, file browser, rich outputs, etc.) in a flexible and powerful user interface. JupyterLab will eventually replace the classic Jupyter Notebook.

RetroLab

RetroLab is a JupyterLab distribution with a retro look and feel, similar to the classic Jupyter Notebook.

REPL

The REPL application is a minimal UI based on the JupyterLab code console to easily execute code in the browser.

Kernels

JupyterLite Kernels implement Jupyter Kernel Messaging in the browser with the help of mock-socket and WebAssembly, without relying on any external infrastructure.

The JupyterLite contibutors develop and maintain the following kernels:

• a Python kernel based on Pyodide: jupyterlite/pyodide-kernel

• a JavaScript kernel running in a Web Worker, developed as part of the jupyterlite/jupyterlite repository but distributed via the jupyterlite-javascript-kernel package on PyPI

• a Python kernel based on Xeus Python: jupyterlite/xeus-python-kernel

There are a few more third-party in-browser kernels also compatible with JupyterLite. See this GitHub discussion for more information.

Check out the How-to Guides of the documentation to learn how to use and configure kernels.