Zed
A next-generation code editor built for high-performance collaboration.
What it does
Why it matters
Editors had settled into a comfortable Electron monoculture — until Zed showed what "native" still buys you: instant startup, 120fps scrolling, and collaboration where two cursors in one file just works. It's a reminder that performance is a feature users feel in their hands.
Engineering notes
- Rust + GPU rendering. Every frame is budgeted; the editor is architected so the UI thread never waits on the world.
- CRDT collaboration. Multiplayer editing built on conflict-free replicated data types — the same class of algorithm behind Google Docs, done peer-to-peer.
- AI as a panel, not a takeover. Agent integration is present but the editor remains fast and predictable with it off.
Limitations
- The extension ecosystem is far smaller than VS Code's — check your must-have plugins first.
- Linux and Windows builds arrived after macOS; some platform rough edges remain.
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Canonical URL: https://notvibescoded.com/projects/zed