Colab is again with a number of new and thrilling options meant to simplify and improve your notebook-based class supplies. Now, instructors have the power to freeze runtime variations on the pocket book stage, and to seamlessly current and replica notebooks, all with only a few clicks in Colab!
Introducing Runtime Variations in Google Colab
When you’ve ever tried to re-run a pocket book from a number of months in the past and been met with a wall of dependency or compatibility errors, you recognize the frustration of a damaged Runtime surroundings. You aren’t alone. Reproducibility is a serious problem within the pocket book world, particularly for course materials. You shouldn’t need to replace your lectures and homework each quarter to ensure they work with the latest python packages – it’s best to have peace of thoughts figuring out your and your college students’ runtimes will keep static.
At Colab, our objective is to supply a seamless and highly effective platform for machine studying, knowledge science, and schooling. We acknowledge {that a} core a part of this mission is making certain your work is secure, shareable, and importantly, reproducible. At this time, we’re excited to take a big step ahead by launching the Runtime Model Selector.
The Problem of a Dynamic Runtime
Colab Runtimes are constantly up to date with the newest software program packages, safety patches, and options. Whereas this ensures you all the time have entry to fashionable instruments and protected environments, it might probably result in challenges when you want to reproduce a particular consequence created on an older runtime. With ongoing updates, core dependencies would possibly change, breaking your code in refined or vital methods. Traditionally, this lack of model pinning may ceaselessly disrupt consumer productiveness and make iterative growth a problem.
Pin Your Pocket book to a Runtime Model
As a way to handle among the challenges that come from having a dynamic runtime, beginning at present, you’ll be able to pin your pocket book to a particular, versioned Colab runtime. This implies you’ll be able to assure that your code will execute in the identical runtime with the identical bundle variations, each time.
You may discover the brand new Runtime Model Selector within the “Change runtime kind” dialog.
By default, new notebooks will proceed to make use of the “Newest” model, providing you with essentially the most up-to-date surroundings. But when you want to guarantee longer-term stability for a undertaking, a course, or a publication, now you can choose a particular model, similar to 2025.07.
The Runtime Model Selector is ideal for:
- Researchers who want to make sure their outcomes are verifiable.
- Educators who create course supplies that have to work persistently for all college students.
- Builders who construct complicated tasks that depend on a particular stack of dependencies.
Full Transparency with the backend-info Github Repo
For each obtainable runtime model, you’ll be able to see the actual set of pre-installed packages. Every runtime model corresponds to a department in our backend-info GitHub repository.
There, you may get a complete snapshot of your complete runtime model, from the Ubuntu OS model, Python/Julia/R Model, and put in bundle particulars, and extra.
Getting Began
You can begin utilizing this function at present by navigating to the Runtime Menu Dropdown -> Change runtime kind.
Our present plan is to take care of previous runtime variations for one yr, however we’re open to listening to suggestions on how lengthy you will have previous variations for.
For extra particulars on how this function works and to see solutions to widespread questions, please see our Runtime Model FAQ.
Slideshow Mode Enhancements
We have added some enhancements to our not too long ago introduced slideshow mode function!
Beginning the slideshow from any level in your pocket book
Calling Begin slideshow will open slideshow mode beginning at your present centered cell. And Begin slideshow from starting will rewind to the primary cell in your pocket book.
Slides with cell pairing
When you create a collapsible heading with a single code cell beneath, they’re going to be paired right into a single slide. That is best for presenting a short clarification alongside a runnable instance on the identical slide!
Strive slideshow mode (together with these enhancements) out your self on this instance pocket book.
New URL Hyperlink Options
Copy Hyperlink
A request we’ve heard from professors and college students alike is to make it simpler to repeat notebooks. Now, you’ll be able to add #copy=true to the tip of any pocket book URL which is able to trigger Colab to convey up a duplicate dialog upon opening the pocket book:
