Pierre Raybaut - From Spyder to DataLab: 15 years of scientific software crafting in Python

Python XY (2008) was one of the first all-in-one scientific Python distributions, addressing the need for simplified installation and offline documentation

Spyder IDE was created in 2009 as a MATLAB-like scientific development environment for Python, becoming a community-driven project with nearly 100 contributors today

DataLab (2023) serves as a scientific data processing platform with three operating modes:

• Standalone application
• Library integration
• Remote-controlled application

Key development philosophy: “If you want to go far, go together” - demonstrated by the successful community-driven evolution of projects like Spyder

Scientific software development requires balancing between:

• R&D and operational applications
• Rapid prototyping capabilities
• Industrial-grade reliability

DataLab provides:

• Signal and image processing features
• Workspace for data manipulation
• Plugin system for extensibility
• Integration with IDEs like Spyder
• Interactive debugging capabilities

Modern scientific software stacks benefit from:

• Qt-based GUIs
• NumPy/SciPy foundations
• Automated testing (90% coverage for DataLab)
• Cross-platform compatibility

Open source scientific tools can be successfully monetized through:

• Custom development services
• Industry-specific implementations
• Integration with proprietary systems