Embeddable notebook access support

Some embodiments support embedding of a notebooks software component in a surrounding host application, thereby promoting consistency of notebook user interfaces and user experiences between different kinds of applications. For instance, the notebook access added to an integrated development environment (IDE) may be aesthetically consistent with the notebook access added to a business analytics tool from the same vendor as the IDE. Departures from the aesthetic are still supported, e.g., a notebook access provided in a video gaming environment to teach gamers programming skills may have the same aesthetic as the simulated world of the video game, rather than an IDE aesthetic or an enterprise software aesthetic. Direct integration or proxied integration architectures may be used. Efficiencies may be gained by distinguishing between notebook viewing, editing, and executing operations, and providing more computationally expensive resources only as needed for the notebook access being performed.