# Choose an IDE (/docs/guides/developer-workspace/dev-environment/choose-an-ide)



When you launch a dev environment, you select an IDE from the **IDE type** dropdown. The choice determines the interface you see when you connect.

Available IDEs [#available-ides]

JupyterLab [#jupyterlab]

JupyterLab is a browser-based environment built around `.ipynb` notebooks. Choose JupyterLab if you:

* Work primarily with Jupyter notebooks (`.ipynb` files)
* Want an integrated notebook, terminal, and file browser in one view
* Use Python interactively and want to see cell outputs inline

VS Code Server [#vs-code-server]

VS Code Server runs the full VS Code editor in your browser. Choose VS Code Server if you:

* Prefer a traditional IDE layout with a file explorer and editor panels
* Work with `.py` scripts, configuration files, or projects with multiple files
* Want access to VS Code extensions and the integrated terminal

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

You cannot change the IDE of a running dev environment. To switch IDEs:

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

See [Configure a dev environment](/docs/guides/developer-workspace/configure-a-dev-environment) for details on attaching existing volumes.