diff --git a/examples/code_editor.ipynb b/examples/code_editor.ipynb
index e4c89f4..45bd191 100644
--- a/examples/code_editor.ipynb
+++ b/examples/code_editor.ipynb
@@ -15,13 +15,15 @@
     "\n",
     "Code completion is provided for the Python mime types `text/x-python` and `text/x-ipython`. The default invocation for code completion is `Tab`, the same as is used in Jupyterlab.\n",
     "\n",
-    "### Tooltips\n",
+    "### Tooltips (Inspect)\n",
     "\n",
     "Documentation `Tooltips` can be invoked with `Shift Tab`.\n",
     "\n",
     "### `namespace_id`\n",
     "\n",
-    "An alternate namespaces can be specified that corresponds to a namespace registry maintained by the `App`. The default namespace \"\" also includes the IPython Shell `user_ns."
+    "An alternate namespaces can be specified that corresponds to a namespace registry maintained by the `App`. The default namespace \"\" also includes the IPython Shell `user_ns.\n",
+    "\n",
+    "## Example"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -31,6 +33,8 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
+    "import asyncio\n",
+    "\n",
     "import ipylab\n",
     "from ipylab.code_editor import CodeEditorOptions"
    ]
@@ -45,10 +49,13 @@
     "# Default syntax is Python\n",
     "ce = ipylab.CodeEditor(\n",
     "    mime_type=\"text/x-python\",\n",
-    "    description=\"Code editor\",\n",
+    "    description=\"<b>Code editor</b>\",\n",
     "    tooltip=\"This is a code editor. Code completion is provided for Python\",\n",
     "    value=\"def test():\\n    ipylab.app.notification.notify('CodeEditor evaluation')\\n\\n# Place the cursor in the CodeEditor and press `Shift Enter`\\ntest()\",\n",
+    "    layout={\"height\": \"120px\", \"overflow\": \"hidden\"},\n",
+    "    description_allow_html=True,\n",
     ")\n",
+    "asyncio.get_event_loop().call_later(0.5, ce.focus)\n",
     "ce"
    ]
   },
@@ -97,7 +104,12 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "ce.editor_options = {\"lineNumbers\": False, \"codeFolding\": True}"
+    "ce.editor_options = {\n",
+    "    \"autoClosingBrackets\": True,\n",
+    "    \"matchBrackets\": True,\n",
+    "    \"highlightTrailingWhitespace\": True,\n",
+    "    \"highlightWhitespace\": True,\n",
+    "}"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -106,6 +118,66 @@
    "id": "8",
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "values = [\"short\", \"long \" * 20, \"multi line\\n\" * 10]\n",
+    "\n",
+    "\n",
+    "async def test():\n",
+    "    import asyncio\n",
+    "    import random\n",
+    "\n",
+    "    for _ in range(20):\n",
+    "        ce.value = random.choice(values)  # noqa: S311\n",
+    "        await asyncio.sleep(random.randint(10, 300) / 1e3)  # noqa: S311"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "9",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "ce"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "10",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "t = ce.to_task(test())"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "11",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "t.cancel()"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "12",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "# Place the label above\n",
+    "ce.layout.flex_flow = \"column\""
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "13",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "# Add the same editor to the shell.\n",
     "ipylab.app.shell.add(ce)"
@@ -113,7 +185,7 @@
   },
   {
    "cell_type": "markdown",
-   "id": "9",
+   "id": "14",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
     "### Other mime_types\n",
@@ -124,7 +196,7 @@
   {
    "cell_type": "code",
    "execution_count": null,
-   "id": "10",
+   "id": "15",
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
@@ -134,7 +206,7 @@
   {
    "cell_type": "code",
    "execution_count": null,
-   "id": "11",
+   "id": "16",
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
diff --git a/ipylab/code_editor.py b/ipylab/code_editor.py
index 335b3d4..2ca2ec4 100644
--- a/ipylab/code_editor.py
+++ b/ipylab/code_editor.py
@@ -5,16 +5,17 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import inspect
+import typing
 from asyncio import Task
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, NotRequired, TypedDict
 
 from IPython.core import completer as IPC  # noqa: N812
 from IPython.utils.tokenutil import token_at_cursor
-from ipywidgets import register, widget_serialization
+from ipywidgets import Layout, register, widget_serialization
 from ipywidgets.widgets.trait_types import InstanceDict
 from ipywidgets.widgets.widget_description import DescriptionStyle
 from ipywidgets.widgets.widget_string import _String
-from traitlets import Callable, Dict, Instance, Int, Unicode, default, observe
+from traitlets import Callable, Container, Dict, Instance, Int, Unicode, default, observe
 
 import ipylab
 from ipylab._compat.typing import override
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ class CodeEditor(Ipylab, _String):
 
     The completer is invoked with `Tab` by default. Use completer_invoke_keys to change.
 
-    `evaluate` and `do_complete` can be overloaded as required.
+    `evaluate` and `load_value` can be overloaded as required.
     Adjust `completer.disable_matchers` as required.
     """
 
@@ -197,6 +198,8 @@ class CodeEditor(Ipylab, _String):
     editor_options: Instance[CodeEditorOptions] = Dict().tag(sync=True)  # type: ignore
     update_throttle_ms = Int(100, help="The limit at which changes are synchronised").tag(sync=True)
     _sync = Int(0).tag(sync=True)
+
+    layout = InstanceDict(Layout, kw={"overflow": "hidden"}).tag(sync=True, **widget_serialization)
     placeholder = None  # Presently not available
 
     value = Unicode()
@@ -211,7 +214,8 @@ class CodeEditor(Ipylab, _String):
     )
 
     namespace_id = Unicode("")
-    evaluate = Callable()
+    evaluate: Container[typing.Callable[[str], typing.Coroutine]] = Callable()  # type: ignore
+    load_value: Container[typing.Callable[[str], None]] = Callable()  # type: ignore
 
     @default("key_bindings")
     def _default_key_bindings(self):
@@ -227,6 +231,10 @@ def _default_key_bindings(self):
     def _default_evaluate(self):
         return self.completer.evaluate
 
+    @default("load_value")
+    def _default_load_value(self):
+        return lambda value: self.set_trait("value", value)
+
     @observe("value")
     def _observe_value(self, _):
         if not self._setting_value and not self._update_task:
@@ -235,9 +243,9 @@ def _observe_value(self, _):
             async def send_value():
                 try:
                     while True:
-                        self._sync = self._sync + 1
                         value = self.value
-                        await self.operation("setValue", {"sync": self._sync, "value": value})
+                        await self.operation("setValue", {"value": value})
+                        self._sync = self._sync + 1
                         await asyncio.sleep(self.update_throttle_ms / 1e3)
                         if self.value == value:
                             return
@@ -264,7 +272,7 @@ async def _do_operation_for_frontend(self, operation: str, payload: dict, buffer
                 if payload["sync"] == self._sync:
                     self._setting_value = True
                     try:
-                        self.value = payload["value"]
+                        self.load_value(payload["value"])
                     finally:
                         self._setting_value = False
                 return self.value == payload["value"]
diff --git a/src/widgets/code_editor.ts b/src/widgets/code_editor.ts
index 46a9024..e5f5f3b 100644
--- a/src/widgets/code_editor.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/code_editor.ts
@@ -100,8 +100,6 @@ export class CodeEditorModel extends IpylabModel {
         return this.editorModel.sharedModel.clearUndoHistory();
       case 'setValue':
         this._syncRequired = true;
-        // Clear first for better reliability with plugins.
-        this.editorModel.sharedModel.setSource('');
         this.editorModel.sharedModel.setSource(payload.value);
         this._syncRequired = false;
         return true;
@@ -151,13 +149,13 @@ export class CodeEditorView extends StringView {
       model: this.model.editorModel
     });
     this.editorWidget.id = this.editorWidget.id || UUID.uuid4();
-    this.editorWidget.addClass(this.className);
     this.model.on('change:mimeType', this.updateCompleter, this);
     this.model.on('change:completer_invoke_keys', this.updateCompleter, this);
     this.model.on('change:editor_options', this.updateEditorOptions, this);
     this.updateCompleter();
     this.updateEditorOptions();
     this.editorWidget.addClass('ipylab-CodeEditor');
+    this.editorWidget.addClass(this.className);
     this.el.appendChild(this.editorWidget.node);
 
     // Initialize the command registry with the bindings.
diff --git a/style/widget.css b/style/widget.css
index 758b5d9..0083216 100644
--- a/style/widget.css
+++ b/style/widget.css
@@ -25,10 +25,14 @@
 .ipylab-MainArea {
   height: 100%;
   width: 100%;
-  display: block;
+  display: flex;
 }
 
 .ipylab-CodeEditor {
+  width: 100%;
   height: 100%;
-  overflow-y: auto;
+  overflow: auto;
+
+  /* overflow-x: auto;
+  overflow-y: auto; */
 }