Canvas (Code Mode)
Single file editing
Excellent
Multi file projects
Not supported
In browser execution
Python + React/HTML
AI assistance
Full ChatGPT conversation alongside code
Version control
Version history with diff
Language porting
One click (JS, TS, Python, Java, C++, PHP)
Best for
Prototyping, learning, quick edits
Full IDE (VS Code, Cursor)
Single file editing
Excellent
Multi file projects
Full support
In browser execution
Requires extensions or terminal
AI assistance
Inline suggestions (Copilot, Cursor)
Version control
Git integration
Language porting
Manual or AI assisted
Best for
Full development projects
Python execution environment
The Python sandbox in Canvas runs in the browser using a WebAssembly based Python runtime. It supports common standard library modules and popular packages for data processing, math, and string manipulation. It does not support packages that require native compilation (like NumPy with C extensions), network requests, or file system access beyond the sandbox. For serious data analysis, use the separate Code Interpreter / Advanced Data Analysis feature in ChatGPT, which runs a full Python environment on OpenAI's servers.
Use Canvas for prototyping, not production
Canvas excels at rapid prototyping and iterative code refinement. Build a proof of concept in Canvas with ChatGPT's help, test it with the built in sandbox, and then move the polished code to your actual development environment. Treat it as a collaborative scratchpad, not a production IDE.