Zed

A minimal, GPU-accelerated code editor built in Rust for humans and AI agents

Intermediate
Screenshot of Zed, A minimal, GPU-accelerated code editor built in Rust for humans and AI agents

What is Zed?

Zed is a GPU-accelerated code editor written in Rust, with native agentic editing, parallel agents, edit prediction via the Zeta2 model, an Agent Client Protocol for third-party agents, a DAP-based debugger, built-in Git, multibuffers, remote development, and first-class Vim bindings.

Zed is a code editor written from scratch in Rust, designed to squeeze performance out of multiple CPU cores and the GPU. The pitch is speed: fast startup, low typing latency, and responsive UI interaction even on large projects. It runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows, and the source is available to clone, which matters for teams that want to inspect or contribute to the tool they spend their day inside. The AI side is the part most developers will evaluate first. Zed supports agentic editing natively, so an agent can edit files, navigate a codebase, and run tools inside the editor rather than in a separate chat window. Parallel Agents let several agent threads run across different projects at once, which suits work that involves jumping between repositories. Edit Prediction is powered by Zeta2, described as an open-weight language model, and the editor also exposes an inline assistant for targeted changes. Because Zed implements the Agent Client Protocol, agents from outside its own stack can be wired in, and a debugger built on the Debug Adapter Protocol adds breakpoint and stepping support across languages. Day to day, this is a working editor rather than a demo shell. Native Git support covers staging, committing, pulling, pushing, and diff review. Multibuffers compose excerpts from across the codebase into one editable surface, which is useful for sweeping refactors and review. Remote development keeps the codebase on a server while only the UI runs locally, and Vim bindings are first class, with text objects and marks included. An extensions catalog supplies language support and themes. Zed fits developers who find heavier editors sluggish and who want AI agents inside the buffer rather than bolted on. It is closest in spirit to a fast native editor with modern AI tooling, and the tradeoff is ecosystem depth: it will not match the extension catalog of long-established editors, and anyone heavily invested in a specific plugin stack should check coverage before switching.

How do you use Zed?

  1. 1Download and install Zed
    Grab the build for macOS, Linux, or Windows from the download page, install it, and launch the editor.
    Zed — Download and install Zed
  2. 2Set up your language toolchains
    Configure language servers and formatters so Zed picks up the languages in your project, following the language configuration docs.
    Zed — Set up your language toolchains
  3. 3Bring in AI editing
    Read the AI overview to connect an agent, then use the inline assistant to select code and request changes in place.
    Zed — Bring in AI editing
  4. 4Run agents in parallel
    Open the parallel agents panel to start separate agent threads across projects so work continues without leaving the editor.
    Zed — Run agents in parallel
  5. 5Try edit prediction
    Enable edit prediction to have Zeta2 suggest your next edit as you move through a file.
  6. 6Add extensions
    Browse the extensions catalog for language support and themes, and install what your stack needs.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Performance is the core design goal: Rust plus GPU rendering targets fast boot and low typing latencyAI
  • Agentic editing and Parallel Agents keep AI work inside the editor across multiple projectsAI
  • Open source with the full codebase available to clone and inspectAI
  • Substantial built-in feature set: Git operations, DAP debugger, remote development, multibuffersAI
  • First-class Vim bindings including text objects and marks, plus ACP support for outside agentsAI

Cons

  • Pricing and plan details are not stated on the homepage, so AI feature costs need checking separatelyAI
  • Extension ecosystem is younger and thinner than editors that have had a decade to accumulate pluginsAI
  • Agentic and edit prediction workflows tie you to Zed's model choices and Zeta2 unless you route through ACPAI
  • No mobile or browser version: it is a desktop install on macOS, Linux, or Windows onlyAI
  • Keyboard-centric design and Vim-oriented defaults mean a real learning curve for newcomersAI

How much does Zed cost?

Integrations

Language servers and extensions via the Zed extensions catalog, the Agent Client Protocol for connecting external agents, and the Debug Adapter Protocol for language debuggers.

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Features

Rust-based editor with GPU rendering, native agentic editing, Parallel Agents across projects, edit prediction powered by the open-weight Zeta2 model, Agent Client Protocol support, a Debug Adapter Protocol debugger, native Git staging and diff review, multibuffer editing, remote development, and first-class Vim bindings.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions about Zed

  • How do you use Zed?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Download and install Zed 2. Set up your language toolchains 3. Bring in AI editing 4. Run agents in parallel 5. Try edit prediction 6. Add extensions.
  • What platforms does Zed support?
    Zed is available on MacOS, Windows and Linux.
  • What does Zed integrate with?
    Language servers and extensions via the Zed extensions catalog, the Agent Client Protocol for connecting external agents, and the Debug Adapter Protocol for language debuggers.
  • What are the limitations of Zed?
    Pricing and plan details are not stated on the homepage, so AI feature costs need checking separately. Extension ecosystem is younger and thinner than editors that have had a decade to accumulate plugins. Agentic and edit prediction workflows tie you to Zed's model choices and Zeta2 unless you route through ACP.

Status

StatusActive
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Added10/21/2026

Platforms

MacOSWindowsLinux

Pricing

FreeFreemium