> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.backprop.co/backprop-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.backprop.co/backprop-docs/usage/environments.md).
# Environments
Environments contain all the data, drivers, and other software for your instance.
Your environment can be stopped and started at will, making it easy to save your progress without having to pay for an instance 24/7.
### Starting an environment
First, pick an environment from our [public list of environments](https://backprop.co/environments).
For example, you can choose the [Backprop Stack](https://backprop.co/environments/backprop-stack) for an environment that has the most popular AI tools such as Jupyter, pytorch and transformers installed.
Click on **Run instance** at the top right of the page
This will give you some configuration options, including the **Instance type**, **Environment variables** and **SSH key**.
Once you click deploy, we make a copy of the base environment such that it becomes uniquely yours.
You can modify everything, down to the driver and kernel versions. No worries if you break it, you can just destroy it and start over.
### Stopping/destroying
If you want to temporarily stop your environment and resume at a later time it's easy to do so.
Simply click on the instance type at the top right and press **Stop**.
This will give the option to either temporarily stop it or permanently destroy the environment, deleting all data. If you wish to destroy your environment permanently, tick the box.
### Changing the instance type
If you suddenly need more or less compute power, it's possible to change the instance type.
This lets you keep the entire environment state and simply run it on different hardware.
To do this, click on the instance type at the top right and press **Change instance**.