Distributed notebook kernels in a containerized computing environment

Distributing kernels in a containerized computing environment includes executing, using computer hardware, a notebook server in a first container, wherein the notebook server is configured to communicate with a gateway in a second container, in response to a request for a kernel from the notebook server, the gateway requesting, using the computer hardware, a new container including the kernel from a container manager, instantiating, using the computer hardware, the new container including the kernel within a selected computing node of a plurality of computing nodes, publishing, using the computer hardware, communication port information for the new container to the gateway, and exchanging electronic messages, using the computer hardware, between the notebook server and the kernel through the gateway using the communication port information for the new container.