# Choose a notebook image (/docs/data/developer-workspace/dev-environment/choose-a-notebook-image)



When you launch a JupyterLab dev environment, you select a base image from the **Custom Image** dropdown. The image determines the Python version, the preinstalled packages, and whether you can run Spark from the notebook.

## Available JupyterLab images [#available-jupyterlab-images]

| Image name ends with              | Package environment         | Spark |
| --------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ----- |
| `jupyterlab:python3.12` (default) | Python 3.12                 | Yes   |
| `jupyterlab:17.3-lts`             | Databricks Runtime 17.3 LTS | Yes   |
| `jupyterlab:python3.13`           | Python 3.13                 | No    |
| `jupyterlab:python3.14`           | Python 3.14                 | No    |
| `jupyterlab:16.4-lts`             | Databricks Runtime 16.4 LTS | No    |

## Which image to use [#which-image-to-use]

* **Start with the default.** `jupyterlab:python3.12` runs Spark DataFrames, Spark SQL, catalog tables, and pandas UDFs.
* **Use Databricks Runtime 17.3 LTS** when your code depends on the package versions of that runtime. It also runs Spark.
* **Use Python 3.13 or 3.14** for notebooks that need a newer Python and do not use Spark.
* **Use Databricks Runtime 16.4 LTS** only for existing code that depends on that runtime. It does not run Spark.

VS Code Server images do not run Spark. Use a JupyterLab image from the table for Spark work.

In an image without Spark support, starting a Spark session fails. On Python 3.13 and 3.14, the error says that `pyspark` is not installed. On Databricks Runtime 16.4 LTS, importing `bsqai_spark` fails because the module is not found.

## Change the image for an existing dev environment [#change-the-image-for-an-existing-dev-environment]

You cannot change the image of a running dev environment. To switch images:

1. Stop the existing dev environment.
2. Launch a new dev environment with the image you need.
3. Mount the same workspace volume if you want to keep your files.