Jupyter vs Figma

The notebook that made data scientists feel like artists, until they tried to version control it meets the design tool that finally made collaboration not feel like pulling teeth. Here's our take.

Jupyter

Nice Pick

The notebook that made data scientists feel like artists, until they tried to version control it.

Pros

• Interactive notebooks perfect for exploratory data analysis and teaching
• Supports over 40 languages, making it versatile for multi-language projects
• Rich output with live code, visualizations, and markdown in one document

Cons

• Notoriously messy for version control and collaboration due to JSON-based files
• Can become sluggish with large datasets or complex visualizations

Figma

The design tool that finally made collaboration not feel like pulling teeth.

Pros

• Real-time collaboration that actually works without version conflicts
• Browser-based so no more 'sorry, I don't have the right software' excuses
• Component libraries and design systems that stay in sync across teams
• Prototyping that doesn't require exporting to three different tools first

Cons

• Offline mode is basically 'good luck with that'
• Performance can chug when you have too many frames (we see you, design system hoarders)
• The free tier is generous until you need more than three projects

The Verdict

Use Jupyter if: You want interactive notebooks perfect for exploratory data analysis and teaching and can live with notoriously messy for version control and collaboration due to json-based files.

Use Figma if: You prioritize real-time collaboration that actually works without version conflicts over what Jupyter offers.

The Bottom Line

Jupyter wins

The notebook that made data scientists feel like artists, until they tried to version control it.