Google Colab
Google Colab is an online version of Jupyter Notebook.
Installation
Since Colab is all online, there's no need to install anything. Simply visit https://colab.research.google.com/ to start. Note that this uses your currently-signed-in Google account.
Usage
You can use Colab pretty much the same way as you use Jupyter Notebook.
Comparison with Jupyter Notebook
Here are the main pros and cons of Jupyter Notebook and Colab:
Jupyter Notebook vs Colab
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Jupyter Notebook |
Google Colab |
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Pros
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- Gets installed locally, so it doesn't require internet
- Easier to use files on your local disk
- Can be faster/more responsive depending on your computer's specs
- Is more customizable (you can have custom themes, etc.)
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- No need to install anything (can save a lot of headaches)
- Works well with Google Drive (that's where files are stored)
- Easier to collaborate than with Jupyter Notebook
- Doesn't freeze up your computer when running intensive tasks as everything's done in the cloud
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Cons
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- Gets installed locally, so installation process can be annoying
- Difficult to collaborate with others
- Can be slower or impossible to run depending on your computer's specs
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- Files are stored using Google Drive; if you want to use files from your computer you need to upload them yourself. And you need to upload them again next time you run the notebook.
- Collaboration can be a pain; you may occasionally lose progress due to poor (nonexistent?) same-time editing support.
- Can be much slower because everything is done in the cloud, which has usage limits as well
- Not a very customizable experience
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