How to Use Google Docs as a Code Runner

How to Use Google Docs as a Code Runner

Using Google Docs as a Code Runner is not a built-in feature, but you can enable it using Google Apps Script. Below is a step-by-step guide to set up Google Docs for running code, including Python, JavaScript, and other programming languages.

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Method 1: Running JavaScript Directly in Google Docs

Google Docs supports Google Apps Script, which is essentially JavaScript with access to Google’s services. Here’s how you can run JavaScript code inside Google Docs:

Steps:

1. Open Google Docs:

   1. Go to Google Docs.
   2. Create a new document or open an existing one.

2. Open Script Editor:

   1. Click Extensions → Apps Script.
   2. A new Google Apps Script editor will open.

3. Write JavaScript Code:

   1. Replace the default code with the following JavaScript snippet:

   javascript
   function myFunction() {
       var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
       var body = doc.getBody();
       body.appendParagraph("Hello, World! This is JavaScript running inside Google Docs.");
   }
   

   • This script adds text to the Google Docs document.

4. Run the Script:

   1. Click Run → Select myFunction.
   2. Authorize the script when prompted.
   3. The text will appear in your document.

📌 Limitations:

• You can only run JavaScript.
• No direct support for other languages like Python or C++.

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Method 2: Running Python, C++, or Other Code Using Google Colab

Google Docs does not support direct execution of languages like Python, but you can use Google Colab (a Jupyter Notebook hosted by Google) and integrate it with Google Docs.

Steps:

1. Open Google Colab:

   1. Go to Google Colab.
   2. Create a new notebook.

2. Write Python Code in a Colab Cell:

   python
   print("Hello, World! This is Python running in Google Colab.")

   1. Press Shift + Enter to run.

3. Embed Colab in Google Docs:

   1. Copy the Google Colab URL.
   2. Paste it into Google Docs.
   3. Alternatively, download the notebook as a .py file (File > Download > .py).
   4. Upload the file to Google Drive and link it in Docs.

📌 Advantages:

• Supports Python, R, Bash, TensorFlow, and more.
• Free GPU for deep learning tasks.

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Method 3: Using a Third-Party Add-on (Code Blocks)

If you want to highlight and format code inside Google Docs but not execute it, you can use the Code Blocks add-on.

Steps:

1. Install Code Blocks:

   1. Open Google Docs.
   2. Click Extensions → Add-ons → Get add-ons.
   3. Search for "Code Blocks" and install it.

2. Use Code Blocks:

   1. Select the text containing code.
   2. Click Extensions → Code Blocks → Format.
   3. Choose a programming language and click Apply.

📌 Limitations:

• Only for formatting code, not executing it.

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Method 4: Using Google Apps Script to Run Python (via API)

You can execute Python scripts from Google Docs using Google Apps Script and an external server.

Steps:

1. Set Up a Python Server:

   1. Install Flask in Python:

2. bash
   pip install flask

1. Create a Flask API (server.py):

3. python
   from flask import Flask, request, jsonify
   
   app = Flask(__name__)
   
   @app.route('/run', methods=['POST'])
   def run_code():
       code = request.json.get('code', '')
       try:
           exec_globals = {}
           exec(code, exec_globals)
           return jsonify({"output": exec_globals})
       except Exception as e:
           return jsonify({"error": str(e)})
   
   if __name__ == '__main__':
       app.run(port=5000)

1. Run the script:

4. bash
   python server.py

5. Call the Python API from Google Apps Script:

   1. Open Google Docs → Extensions → Apps Script.
   2. Write the following JavaScript code:

6. javascript
   function runPythonCode() {
       var url = "http://localhost:5000/run";
       var payload = {
           "code": "x = 10\ny = 20\nprint('Sum:', x + y)"
       };
       var options = {
           "method": "post",
           "contentType": "application/json",
           "payload": JSON.stringify(payload)
       };
       var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url, options);
       var result = JSON.parse(response.getContentText());
       Logger.log(result);
   }

1. Run the function from the script editor.

📌 Advantages:

• Runs Python inside Google Docs.
• Extendable to cloud-based execution.

📌 Limitations:

• Requires an external server.

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Best Option for Running Code in Google Docs

Method	Supports	Execution	Ease of Use	Best For
JavaScript in Apps Script	JavaScript	✅ Yes	⭐⭐⭐	Automating Google Docs
Google Colab + Docs	Python, R, Bash	✅ Yes	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Running Python & ML
Code Blocks Add-on	All Languages	❌ No	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Formatting Code
Apps Script + Python API	Python (via API)	✅ Yes	⭐⭐	Advanced Users

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Conclusion

If you want to run JavaScript, use Google Apps Script. If you need Python or other languages, use Google Colab or an API-based method. For code formatting, the Code Blocks add-on is a simple solution.