Google Colab (Colaboratory), developed by Google Research in 2017, is a free, online Jupyter Notebook environment that allows users to run machine learning and deep learning models on CPUs, GPUs, and TPUs. Colab is a platform that enables users to work with Python without needing to rely on the hardware of their local computers. Created with the goal of advancing artificial intelligence technologies and promoting the use of cloud services, Google Colab is an accessible tool for all users. Users can easily utilize this service by simply having a Google account and a web browser.

Scope and Structure

Features and Working Principle of Google Colab

Colab offers users the ability to work with their own data through access to Google Drive (GD) accounts. Users can store their data on GD accounts and perform Python-based work with it. Colab comes pre-installed with popular libraries such as TensorFlow, Keras, Caffe, and Thenao. Additionally, users can easily install extra libraries. This feature is especially convenient for quickly performing tasks such as creating, training, and testing machine learning and deep learning algorithms. Since Colab eliminates the need for software installation, users can directly work in the online environment, which simplifies the work for researchers and developers.

Various Processors and Hardware Options

Google Colab allows users to select from different types of processors. Users can work with processors such as MIB (Mobile Processing Unit), GIB (Graphics Processing Unit), and TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) through Jupyter notebooks. The models and features of the available processors on Colab may vary depending on the user's needs. For example, the GIB is provided by the NVIDIA Tesla K80 (11GB) model, while the use of TPU is expected to become more efficient in the future. This allows users to quickly and efficiently perform tasks by selecting the hardware that best meets their computational needs.

Data Sharing and Storage

Colab provides data storage via Google Drive, making it an ideal platform for handling large datasets. In addition to working with data from a GD account, Colab can also connect to other GD accounts and access data from those accounts. This feature makes it easy for users to share data and process it across different accounts. However, the storage space provided by Colab is limited by Google Drive's constraints, and there is a maximum data size limit of 15 GB.

Advantages

• Free Hardware Support: Colab offers users free access to advanced processors such as MIB, GIB, and TPU, enabling faster execution of large data and computationally intensive applications.
• Easy Data Sharing: Since Colab integrates with Google Drive, users can easily access and share their data.
• Library Support: Libraries such as TensorFlow, Keras, and Caffe, which are commonly used in machine learning and deep learning, are pre-installed on Colab. Additionally, users can easily install other libraries as needed.
• Jupyter Notebook Features: Colab provides users with the full functionality of Jupyter Notebooks, making it much easier to run Python code, create visualizations, and perform analyses.

Disadvantages

• TPU Support is Not Guaranteed: Although Colab offers TPU support, it is not guaranteed. Users may sometimes find that Colab does not offer this service when they wish to use TPU.
• Session Time Limitations: Colab does not guarantee long-duration sessions. According to Google's statements, long-running sessions may be automatically terminated. Our experiences indicate that sessions lasting 12 hours or shorter typically continue without interruption, but longer sessions may be terminated.
• Data Upload and Connectivity Issues: Data uploaded to GD may not always be immediately recognized by Colab. In such cases, it may be necessary to restart the session or reload the program.
• Limited Programming Language Support: Currently, only Python is supported, and it is not possible to work with or develop programs in other languages.

Use Cases

Colab is commonly used in machine learning and deep learning projects. Some of the most frequent use cases for Colab are:

• Using TensorFlow: Training and testing machine learning and deep learning models with TensorFlow.
• Developing and Training Neural Networks: Developing deep learning algorithms and artificial neural networks.
• Experimenting with TPU: Performing experiments with large datasets using TPUs on Colab.
• Sharing Artificial Intelligence Research: Allowing researchers to easily share their findings on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Creating Educational Content: Colab is ideal for creating interactive educational materials.