Unlocking the Power of JupyterLite

In the ever-evolving landscape of data science, tools that enhance accessibility and usability are crucial. JupyterLite is a browser-based version of the popular Jupyter notebook environment, it allows users to create and run Jupyter notebooks directly in their web browser without the need for a server or installation of any software.

At the heart of JupyterLite's functionality is Pyodide, a powerful tool that brings the Python programming language to the browser. By compiling Python to WebAssembly, Pyodide enables users to run Python code directly in their web browsers, making it easier than ever to perform data analysis and visualization on the fly. With Pyodide, you can seamlessly integrate real-time data, such as displaying a Mastodon RSS feed into your notebooks, as shown in the video below.

Creating Your Own JupyterLite Instance

To create your own instance of JupyterLite, you can start by visiting the official demo repository on GitHub. Navigate to https://github.com/jupyterlite/demo, this repository contains all the necessary files and configurations to set up a JupyterLite static server.

Below, you can access the JupyterLite instance that we used in the previous screencast.

Edge Browser Progressive App

To create a Progressive Web App (PWA), open this JupyterLite instance in the Edge browser.

Once the page is loaded, click on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of the browser, navigate to Apps and select Install JupyterLite. This action will prompt Edge to create a standalone application for this JupyterLite instance.

Alternatively, click the small icon visible on the search bar right to the URL, as shown in the picture below.

Once installed, the PWA will be listed among your applications, enabling you to launch it just like a native app. JupyterLite will now operate smoothly as a PWA, allowing users to access it from their desktop or taskbar.