10 Top Tips and Tricks for JupyterLab

10 Top Tips and Tricks for JupyterLab

JupyterLab is a powerful tool for data scientists, allowing you to create and share interactive notebooks with ease. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned pro, there are always new tips and tricks to discover. In this post, we’ll share 10 of our top tips for making the most of JupyterLab.

1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts

JupyterLab has a wealth of keyboard shortcuts that can save you time and make your workflow more efficient. Some of the most useful shortcuts include:

Shift + Enter to run a cell Esc to enter command mode A to insert a new cell above the current cell B to insert a new cell below the current cell D, D to delete the current cell M to convert a cell to Markdown Y to convert a cell to code

You can find a full list of shortcuts by clicking on the Settings menu and selecting Keyboard Shortcuts.

2. Use Code Snippets

JupyterLab allows you to create and use code snippets, which can save you time when writing code. To create a code snippet, simply select the code you want to save and click on the Code Snippets button in the left sidebar. You can then give your snippet a name and save it for later use.

To use a code snippet, simply click on the Code Snippets button and select the snippet you want to insert. The code will be inserted into the current cell, ready for you to use.

3. Use the Table of Contents Extension

JupyterLab has a Table of Contents extension that allows you to easily navigate long notebooks. To enable the extension, click on the Settings menu and select Advanced Settings Editor. In the editor, search for @jupyterlab/toc:plugin and enable the extension.

Once the extension is enabled, you’ll see a new Table of Contents button in the left sidebar. Click on the button to open the table of contents, which will show you all the headings in your notebook. You can click on a heading to jump to that section of the notebook.

4. Use the Variable Inspector Extension

The Variable Inspector extension allows you to easily view and interact with the variables in your notebook. To enable the extension, click on the Settings menu and select Advanced Settings Editor. In the editor, search for @jupyterlab/variableinspector:plugin and enable the extension.

Once the extension is enabled, you’ll see a new Variable Inspector button in the left sidebar. Click on the button to open the variable inspector, which will show you all the variables in your notebook. You can click on a variable to view its value, or you can edit the value directly in the inspector.

5. Use the Git Extension

JupyterLab has a Git extension that allows you to easily manage your Git repositories from within the notebook interface. To enable the extension, click on the Settings menu and select Advanced Settings Editor. In the editor, search for @jupyterlab/git:plugin and enable the extension.

Once the extension is enabled, you’ll see a new Git button in the left sidebar. Click on the button to open the Git interface, which will show you all the files in your repository. You can use the interface to commit changes, push changes to the remote repository, and more.

6. Use the Variable Explorer

The Variable Explorer allows you to easily view and manipulate variables in your Python code. To enable the Variable Explorer, click on the Settings menu and select Advanced Settings Editor. In the editor, search for @jupyterlab/variable-explorer-extension:plugin and enable the extension.

Once the extension is enabled, you’ll see a new Variable Explorer button in the left sidebar. Click on the button to open the Variable Explorer, which will show you all the variables in your notebook. You can click on a variable to view its value, or you can edit the value directly in the explorer.

7. Use the Debugger

The Debugger extension allows you to debug your Python code directly in JupyterLab. To enable the Debugger, click on the Settings menu and select Advanced Settings Editor. In the editor, search for @jupyterlab/debugger-extension:plugin and enable the extension.

Once the extension is enabled, you’ll see a new Debugger button in the left sidebar. Click on the button to open the Debugger, which will allow you to set breakpoints and step through your code.

8. Use the Interactive Widgets

JupyterLab’s Interactive Widgets allow you to create interactive user interfaces for your notebooks. To use the widgets, you’ll need to install the ipywidgets package. You can do this by running the following command in a notebook cell:

!pip install ipywidgets

Once the package is installed, you can create widgets using the interact function. For example, the following code creates a slider widget that allows you to select a value between 0 and 10:

from ipywidgets import interact

@interact(x=(0, 10))
def square(x):
    print(x * x)

9. Use the LaTeX Extension

JupyterLab has a LaTeX extension that allows you to easily create and display mathematical equations in your notebooks. To use the extension, you’ll need to install the ipywidgets and ipython packages. You can do this by running the following command in a notebook cell:

!pip install ipywidgets ipython

Once the packages are installed, you can create LaTeX equations using the $ symbol. For example, the following code creates an equation for the area of a circle:

from IPython.display import display, Math

r = 5
area = Math(r"\pi r^2 = {}".format(round(math.pi * r**2, 2)))
display(area)

10. Use the nbconvert Tool

JupyterLab’s nbconvert tool allows you to convert your notebooks to a variety of different formats, including HTML, PDF, and Markdown. To use the tool, you’ll need to install the nbconvert package. You can do this by running the following command in a notebook cell:

!pip install nbconvert

Once the package is installed, you can use the nbconvert command to convert your notebook to the desired format. For example, the following command converts a notebook to HTML:

!jupyter nbconvert --to html notebook.ipynb

Conclusion

JupyterLab is a powerful tool for data scientists, and these tips and tricks can help you make the most of it. Whether you’re using keyboard shortcuts, creating code snippets, or using extensions like the Table of Contents or Variable Inspector, there are always new ways to improve your workflow. By incorporating these tips and tricks into your JupyterLab workflow, you can save time and work more efficiently.