diff --git a/.binder/README b/.binder/README
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@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+This directory holds configuration files for https://mybinder.org/.
+
+The notebooks that comprise the documentation can be accessed with this link:
+https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/qcodes/qcodes/master?filepath=docs
+
+
+To check out a different version, just replace "master" with the desired
+branch/tag name or commit hash.
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diff --git a/.binder/requirements.txt b/.binder/requirements.txt
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+qcodes
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diff --git a/.binder/start b/.binder/start
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+++ b/.binder/start
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+#!/bin/bash
+# https://mybinder.readthedocs.io/en/latest/config_files.html#start-run-code-before-the-user-sessions-starts
+export MY_DUMMY_VARIABLE="Hello from .binder/start!"
+exec "$@"
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diff --git a/docs/binder/requirements.txt b/docs/binder/requirements.txt
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-# extra requirements for binder env
-qcodes
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