Hello Scilab users,
Here are the steps to install a minimal environment to be able to create and run Scilab notebooks. You can skip the Miniconda step if you already have an equivalent Python distribution (Anaconda, or else).
Windows
Download the latest Miniconda or Python distribution (there are problems with the Scilab kernel and Anaconda):
- miniconda: https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Windows-x86_64.exe
- python: https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.13.2/python-3.13.2-amd64.exe
and double-click on the .exe file to proceed to the installation. Then open a command Window (cmd) and type the following (pinning the ipython version number is mandatory)
pip install ipython==8 jupyterlab scilab_kernel
python -m scilab_kernel install --user
If you installed miniconda you can replace the first line by
conda install ipython=8 jupyterlab
Then check that the following command
python -m scilab_kernel.check
yields the following output
$ python -m scilab_kernel.check
0.00s - Debugger warning: It seems that frozen modules are being used, which may
0.00s - make the debugger miss breakpoints. Please pass -Xfrozen_modules=off
0.00s - to python to disable frozen modules.
0.00s - Note: Debugging will proceed. Set PYDEVD_DISABLE_FILE_VALIDATION=1 to disable this validation.
Windows registry binary: C:\Program Files\scilab-2025.0.0\bin\wscilex-cli.exe
scilab_kernel._banner: 2025.0.0
Scilab kernel v0.10.2
Metakernel v0.30.1
Python v3.11.8 (tags/v3.11.8:db85d51, Feb 6 2024, 22:03:32) [MSC v.1937 64 bit (AMD64)]
Python path: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\python.exe
Connecting to Scilab...
Scilab connection established
2025.0.0
where username is your actual user id.
macOS
Download the latest Miniconda distribution (you may have success with Anaconda or a minimal Python distribution but we did not test):
- Intel version: https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-x86_64.pkg
- M1 version : https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-arm64.pkg
and double-click on the .pkg file to proceed to the installation. Then open the Terminal application and type the following commands (pinning the ipython version number is mandatory):
conda install ipython=8 jupyterlab
pip install scilab_kernel
python -m scilab_kernel install --user
Then check that the following command
python -m scilab_kernel.check
yields the following output
Scilab kernel v0.10.2
Metakernel v0.30.2
Python v3.10.14 | packaged by conda-forge | (main, Mar 20 2024, 12:51:49) [Clang 16.0.6 ]
Python path: /Users/mottelet/miniforge3/bin/python
Connecting to Scilab...
Scilab connection established
macOS Application binary: /Applications/scilab-2025.0.0.app/Contents/bin/scilab-adv-cli
scilab_kernel._banner: 2025.0.0
2025.0.0
where username is your actual user id.
Create your first Scilab notebook
You should be able to launch Jupyter lab with the following command
jupyter lab
your default web browser should open a new window and display the following content:
Click on the Scilab icon in the “Notebook” category, and type
plot()
in the first cell then type 
, the notebook should look like this:
