Google Colab

Google Colab is Google’s cloud-based implementation of Jupyter Notebook. Colab provides a cloud-based IDE for Python that allows users to write and execute code directly in their browser. Each Colab account includes free, limited computing resources. Colab is commonly used by researchers and computer science students studying deep learning or data science.

Benefits

• A cloud-based IDE to write and run Python scripts.
• Google Gemini integration to assist with writing and editing code.

Key Features

• Supports Python 3, R, and Julia
• Built on top of Jupyter Notebook
• Free access to limited GPU/TPU computing resources
• Integration with Google Drive for saving and loading notebooks
• Ability to share notebooks like Google Docs
• Multiple users can collaborate and work on the same document at the same time
• Compatible with popular machine learning libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn

What to Expect

• The free tier of Colab is included with your BU Google account.
• Limited compute, memory and storage are provided on the free tier.
• Additional tiers with additional capacity are available for self-service upgrade.
• Google Colab is provided to Boston University as a “non-core” service. Boston University IS&T will provide “best-effort” support. Advanced troubleshooting and escalation paths may be unavailable.

Requirements

• You must be an actively enrolled BU student, faculty, or staff member with an active Google account in BU’s Workspace
• Enable a BU Google Apps Account

Cost

Google Colab is available at no cost to students, faculty, and staff with a valid BU Google account.

Those looking for more compute, memory or GPUs may upgrade their Colab subscription here.

Subscriptions must be purchased through individual BU Google accounts. Boston University is unable to provide or manage subscriptions.

Getting Started

• Access Google Colab
• Colab Features Overview