---
id: spyder-kernels
version: "3.1.5"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# spyder-kernels — Jupyter kernels for Spyder's console

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 130.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

spyder-kernels is a bridge between Spyder, the Scientific Python IDE, and Jupyter's kernel architecture. It provides kernels that let you execute Python code interactively within Spyder's console panes, or use those same kernels independently in a standard Jupyter environment. The package wraps ipykernel and related Jupyter components (jupyter-client, ipython) to handle code execution, serialization via cloudpickle, and inter-process communication through pyzmq.

You install it once, and Spyder automatically discovers and uses it for its console. You can also launch the kernels standalone if you want Spyder-compatible execution outside the IDE. It's designed for developers and scientists who want interactive Python exploration with Spyder's editor and debugging tools, or who need to switch between Spyder and Jupyter without reconfiguring their environment.

Use it for:

- Interactive data exploration and visualization in Spyder's console with persistent kernel state across multiple code cells.
- Running long-running computations or simulations in Spyder while keeping the IDE responsive and debuggable.
- Switching between Spyder and Jupyter notebooks without losing kernel state or environment configuration.
- Developing and testing scientific Python code with Spyder's integrated debugging and introspection tools.
- Managing multiple isolated Python environments within Spyder for different projects or dependencies.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides Jupyter kernels that integrate Python code execution with Spyder's interactive console, enabling both interactive and file-based code execution within the Spyder IDE.

Yes—if you use Spyder for interactive Python development. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and low install friction. It's a core component for Spyder's console functionality. If you don't use Spyder or prefer other IDEs, it's not relevant.

## Install

pip install spyder-kernels
uv add spyder-kernels
poetry add spyder-kernels

## Installing spyder-kernels

Before you install: Low friction: pure Python wheel with nine runtime dependencies including ipykernel, jupyter-client, and ipython. Last release 52 days ago with active repository maintenance and no known vulnerabilities.

License in practice: MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both commercial and personal projects.

Quickstart:

pip install spyder-kernels

# Then launch Spyder, which will automatically discover and use these kernels
# for its console panes. Kernels can also be used independently:
from spyder_kernels.console import start_kernel
start_kernel()

Requires Python 3.9 or later; intended for use with Spyder IDE or as a standalone Jupyter kernel provider.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package works reliably with all supported Python versions (3.9–3.13) in production environments.
- Performance characteristics when handling large datasets or long-running computations in the Spyder console.
- Compatibility with third-party Spyder plugins or extensions that may interact with kernel execution.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 130.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

spyder jupyter kernel, spyder console ipython, interactive python spyder, jupyter kernel for spyder, spyder ipykernel integration, spyder code execution, spyder interactive console, jupyter-kernel, spyder-ide, interactive-console

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