Installing jupyter-ai 3.0.0b9 disables "jupyter-docprovider-extension" (Part of "jupyter-collaboration")

[PeterSmarthome]

Summary

After upgrading to jupyter-ai 3.0.0b9 in my JupyterLab 4.5.0 environment, the Document Timeline UI (RTC history slider) disappears from the JupyterLab interface.

[Update: after installing jupyter-ai 3.0.0b9 the "jupyter-docprovider-extension" (comes with "jupyter-collaboration") is disabled and can not be enabled any more -> It is required for the timeline to work]

The key observation:

• With JupyterLab 4.5.0 + jupyter-collaboration 4.1.x, the Document Timeline is visible and works.
• Immediately after installing jupyter-ai==3.0.0b9, the Timeline icon/slider is gone.
• The RTC backend (ystore / ydoc) continues to function, but the UI for accessing the history is missing.
• Also, after update to 3.0.0b9 the "Save" Button disappeared and JupyterLab runs on auto-save mode (did not do so before update to 3.0.0b9

This suggests an interaction between jupyter-ai and the Collaboration/RTC components.

---

Environment

Server setup:

• OS: Linux (single-user, systemd-managed)
• Conda environment: jlab-ui
• Python: 3.11
• JupyterLab: 4.5.0
• jupyter-server: 2.17.0
• jupyter-collaboration: 4.1.2
• jupyter-server-ydoc: 2.1.2 (enabled)
• jupyter-ydoc: 3.1.0
• jupyter-ai: 3.0.0b9

JupyterLab command (via systemd):
jupyter-lab --port=8888 --no-browser --NotebookApp.allow_origin=*

Server extensions (shortened):

• jupyter_server_ydoc: enabled and OK
• jupyter_server_documents: enabled and OK
• jupyter_server_fileid: enabled and OK
• jupyterlab: enabled and OK
• jupyterlab_chat: enabled
• jupyterlab_commands_toolkit: enabled
• jupyter-ai-chat-commands: enabled
• jupyter-ai-jupyternaut: enabled
• jupyter-ai-litellm: enabled
• jupyter-ai-persona-manager: enabled
• jupyter-ai-router: enabled

YStore file exists and is active:

• /home/peter/.jupyter_ystore.db
  Log messages confirm ydoc writes, for example:
  "Wrote output to ydoc: Untitled.ipynb ..."

---

What works WITHOUT jupyter-ai

1. Install:
   • jupyterlab 4.5.0
   • jupyter-collaboration 4.1.2
   • jupyter-server-ydoc 2.1.2
2. Enable server extension:
   jupyter server extension enable jupyter_server_ydoc
3. Start JupyterLab.

Result:

• The Document Timeline UI is visible (status bar)
• I can browse and restore older notebook versions
• Everything works as expected

---

What happens AFTER installing jupyter-ai 3.0.0b9

Steps I performed:

1. Stop Jupyter service
2. Uninstall old jupyter-ai-magics
3. Install jupyter-ai==3.0.0b9
4. Start Jupyter service again

After this:

• JupyterLab starts normally
• jupyter_server_ydoc still works
• YStore continues to update

BUT:

• The Document Timeline UI disappears completely from the interface
• No timeline icon, no slider, nowhere in menus
• If I uninstall jupyter-ai again, the Timeline returns

---

Expected behavior

Installing jupyter-ai should not hide or disable the existing Document Timeline UI provided by jupyter-collaboration.

---

Actual behavior

• With JupyterLab 4.5.0 and jupyter-collaboration: Timeline visible and working
• After installing jupyter-ai 3.0.0b9: Timeline UI disappears, although RTC backend continues to run

[PeterSmarthome]

Two more things I did found meanwhile:

• same behavior on JupyterLab 2.4.10
• after installing jupyter-ai 3.0.0b9 the "jupyter-docprovider-extension" (comes with "jupyter-collaboration") is disabled and can not be enabled any more

-> The jupyter-docprovider-extension is required for the timeline to work.

So Ic change the title of this post accordingly