How to use the command 'jupyter' (with examples)

Jupyter is a web application that allows users to create and share documents that contain code, visualizations, and notes. It is primarily used for data analysis, scientific computing, and machine learning. The command ‘jupyter’ is used to interact with Jupyter and perform various tasks.

Use case 1: Start a Jupyter notebook server in the current directory

Code:

jupyter notebook

Motivation: Starting a Jupyter notebook server is the first step in using Jupyter effectively. It allows users to create and edit Jupyter notebooks, which are interactive documents that contain code, visualizations, and text.

Explanation: The command ‘jupyter notebook’ starts a Jupyter notebook server in the current directory. This opens a web browser with the Jupyter interface, where users can navigate the file system, create new notebooks, and open existing notebooks.

Example output: The command will start the Jupyter notebook server and open the Jupyter interface in the default web browser.

Use case 2: Open a specific Jupyter notebook

Code:

jupyter notebook example.ipynb

Motivation: When working with multiple Jupyter notebooks, it’s convenient to be able to open a specific notebook directly from the command line. This saves time and allows for quick access to the desired notebook.

Explanation: The command ‘jupyter notebook example.ipynb’ opens the specified Jupyter notebook named ’example.ipynb’. This will immediately open the notebook in the Jupyter interface, allowing the user to start working on it.

Example output: The command will open the specified Jupyter notebook in the Jupyter interface in the default web browser.

Use case 3: Export a specific Jupyter notebook into another format

Code:

jupyter nbconvert --to html|markdown|pdf|script example.ipynb

Motivation: Jupyter notebooks can be exported into various formats, such as HTML, Markdown, PDF, or even executable scripts. This is useful when sharing the notebook with others who may not have Jupyter installed, or when the notebook needs to be converted for a different purpose.

Explanation: The command ‘jupyter nbconvert –to html|markdown|pdf|script example.ipynb’ exports the specified Jupyter notebook into the desired format. The ‘–to’ argument specifies the output format, which can be ‘html’, ‘markdown’, ‘pdf’, or ‘script’. The ’example.ipynb’ is the name of the notebook file to be exported.

Example output: The command will convert the specified Jupyter notebook into the specified format and save it as a separate file.

Use case 4: Start a server on a specific port

Code:

jupyter notebook --port=port

Motivation: By default, the Jupyter notebook server runs on port 8888. However, in some cases, port 8888 may already be in use by another application. To avoid conflicts, it’s possible to start the server on a different port.

Explanation: The command ‘jupyter notebook –port=port’ starts the Jupyter notebook server on the specified port. Users can choose any available port number to run the server.

Example output: The command will start the Jupyter notebook server on the specified port, allowing users to access it using the URL and port number.

Use case 5: List currently running notebook servers

Code:

jupyter notebook list

Motivation: It’s helpful to be able to check the currently running notebook servers to determine which notebooks are already active. This can be useful when trying to avoid running multiple instances of the notebook server simultaneously.

Explanation: The command ‘jupyter notebook list’ lists all the currently running notebook servers. It provides information such as the URL, port number, and process ID of each running server.

Example output: The command will display a list of the currently running notebook servers, including their URLs, port numbers, and process IDs.

Use case 6: Stop the currently running server

Code:

jupyter notebook stop

Motivation: When the Jupyter notebook server is no longer needed, it’s important to stop it to free up system resources and avoid any potential security issues.

Explanation: The command ‘jupyter notebook stop’ stops the currently running notebook server. This command can be executed from any directory as it does not require the specific location of the Jupyter notebook.

Example output: The command will stop the currently running Jupyter notebook server, freeing up system resources.

Use case 7: Start JupyterLab, if installed, in the current directory

Code:

jupyter lab

Motivation: JupyterLab is an enhanced user interface for Jupyter notebooks that provides a more comprehensive and interactive environment for working with code, visualizations, and notes. Starting JupyterLab allows users to take advantage of its advanced features and improved workflow.

Explanation: The command ‘jupyter lab’ starts JupyterLab if it is installed on the system. JupyterLab provides a more feature-rich environment compared to the classic Jupyter notebook interface.

Example output: The command will start JupyterLab and open the JupyterLab interface in the default web browser.

Conclusion:

The ‘jupyter’ command is a powerful tool for working with Jupyter notebooks and JupyterLab. It allows users to start notebook servers, open specific notebooks, export notebooks into different formats, manage running servers, and more. By understanding and utilizing these use cases, users can effectively utilize the command ‘jupyter’ for their data analysis, scientific computing, and machine learning needs.