diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index cebc69c..58fc832 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "image": "docker.io/kostrykin/mobi-devcontainer-python:2023.1",
+  "image": "docker.io/kostrykin/mobi-devcontainer-python:test_pylab",
   "customizations": {
     "codespaces": {
       "openFiles": []
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1377554
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+*.swp
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 61bb86c..96f11d8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ This repository builds a Docker image for [Molecular Biotechnology Python Lesson
 - Python 3.9 and 3.11 (3.11 selected as default Jupyter kernel)
 - VS Code with `ms-toolsai.jupyter` extension
 - Packages specified in `ingredients/requirements.txt` installed for Python 3.11
+- Substitute for `%pylab` which imports `numpy` and `matplotlib.pyplot` into the global namespace and omits the deprection warning produced by the original `%pylab` instruction
 
 Dotfiles `**/.*` and Markdown files `**/*.md` are hidden in the VS Code file manager. Pylance is disabled.
 
diff --git a/ingredients/.devcontainer.json b/ingredients/.devcontainer.json
index e58201a..1b029cc 100644
--- a/ingredients/.devcontainer.json
+++ b/ingredients/.devcontainer.json
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@
           "**/.*": true,
           "**/*.md": true
         },
-        "python.linting.enabled": false,
-        "python.linting.pylintEnabled": false
+        // Disable all help for linters etc.
+        "python.languageServer": "None"
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/ingredients/Dockerfile b/ingredients/Dockerfile
index b96f7fd..7904e34 100644
--- a/ingredients/Dockerfile
+++ b/ingredients/Dockerfile
@@ -3,3 +3,7 @@ FROM mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/python:3.11-bullseye
 COPY requirements.txt /tmp/pip-tmp/
 RUN pip3 --disable-pip-version-check --no-cache-dir install -r /tmp/pip-tmp/requirements.txt
 RUN rm -rf /tmp/pip-tmp
+
+WORKDIR /home/vscode/.ipython/profile_default/startup
+ADD substitute_pylab.ipy .
+RUN chown -R vscode:vscode /home/vscode/.ipython
diff --git a/ingredients/substitute_pylab.ipy b/ingredients/substitute_pylab.ipy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cd7c39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ingredients/substitute_pylab.ipy
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    from IPython.core import magic
+
+    @magic.register_line_magic
+    def pylab(*args):
+        import numpy as np
+        import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+        globals().update(np.__dict__)
+        globals().update(plt.__dict__)
+
+    del pylab