Jupyter vs Polynote: What are the differences?

Jupyter and Polynote are both interactive computing environments widely used for data analysis and scientific computing. However, they have some key differences that set them apart from each other.

1. Language Support: Jupyter primarily supports Python, but it also has support for other programming languages like R and Julia. On the other hand, Polynote is polyglot and designed to provide native support for multiple programming languages, including Python, Scala, and SQL. This makes Polynote more versatile for multi-language data analysis tasks.

2. Notebook Layout: Jupyter notebooks have a linear structure, where cells are executed sequentially from top to bottom. Polynote, on the other hand, allows for non-linear execution by adding cells at any position in the notebook. This enables more flexibility and makes it easier to organize and navigate through the code.

3. Data Visualization: Jupyter provides rich support for interactive data visualization with libraries like Matplotlib, Seaborn, and Plotly. Polynote, on the contrary, does not have built-in interactive visualization capabilities. However, it can still display static plots using libraries like Matplotlib or Vega-Lite.

4. Collaboration: Jupyter notebooks promote collaboration by allowing users to share interactive documents online. Users can easily collaborate on a shared notebook by using platforms like GitHub or JupyterHub. Polynote, on the other hand, lacks some of these collaboration features and is more focused on individual user productivity.

5. Notebook Management: Jupyter notebooks are stored as individual files on the filesystem, making it easy to organize, version control, and share them. Polynote, however, stores notebooks in a single server-based environment, making it more suitable for larger projects with multiple notebooks.

6. Customization: Jupyter provides extensive customization options by allowing users to install and configure various extensions. These extensions can add functionality like code linting, code formatting, and more. Polynote, on the other hand, has limited customization options and currently does not support extensions.

In summary, Jupyter excels in its language support, collaboration features, and extensive customization options, while Polynote stands out with its polyglot nature, non-linear notebook execution, and notebook management capabilities.