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Alex Spinov
Alex Spinov

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Zed Editor Has a Free API: A GPU-Accelerated Code Editor Built in Rust

#editor #rust #productivity #opensource

Zed is a code editor built from scratch in Rust with GPU-accelerated rendering. It renders at 120fps, uses 10x less memory than VS Code, and has real-time collaboration built in.

Why Zed Matters

VS Code is Electron (a web browser). Zed is native Rust rendering directly to the GPU. The difference is like watching a video at 120fps vs 15fps — everything feels instant.

What you get for free:

  • GPU-accelerated rendering (120fps on macOS)
  • 10x less memory than VS Code
  • Real-time collaboration (like Google Docs for code)
  • Built-in AI assistant (Claude, GPT-4, local models)
  • Language Server Protocol support (same extensions as VS Code)
  • Built-in terminal
  • Vim mode
  • Open source (Apache 2.0 + AGPL for collaboration)

Install 

# macOS
brew install --cask zed

# Linux
curl -f https://zed.dev/install.sh | sh

# Or download from zed.dev
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Performance Comparison

Metric VS Code Zed
Startup time 1-3s 100-200ms
Memory (idle) 300-500MB 50-100MB
Memory (large project) 1-2GB 200-400MB
Rendering FPS 30-60 120
Technology Electron/JS Native Rust/GPU
File open time 100-500ms <10ms

Key Features

Multi-buffer Editing

Edit multiple files in a single buffer view — search results open inline, not in separate tabs:

# Search for "TODO" across project
# Results appear as an editable multi-buffer
# Edit directly in the search results
# Changes save to the original files
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Real-Time Collaboration 

1. Open Zed
2. Click "Share Project" in the toolbar
3. Send the link to your teammate
4. Both edit the same code in real-time
5. See each other's cursors, selections, and edits
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Inline AI Assistant 

# Select code, press Ctrl+Enter
# Type your request:
"Refactor this to use async/await"
"Add error handling"
"Write tests for this function"

# Zed shows a diff — accept or reject
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Built-in Terminal

The terminal is a first-class citizen:

  • Split terminal alongside code
  • Click file paths in terminal output to open them
  • Drag to resize

Language Server Protocol 

// settings.json — configure LSP
{
  "languages": {
    "TypeScript": {
      "language_servers": ["typescript-language-server"]
    },
    "Rust": {
      "language_servers": ["rust-analyzer"]
    },
    "Python": {
      "language_servers": ["pyright"]
    }
  }
}
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Configuration 

// ~/.config/zed/settings.json
{
  "theme": "One Dark",
  "buffer_font_family": "JetBrains Mono",
  "buffer_font_size": 14,
  "vim_mode": true,
  "autosave": { "after_delay": { "milliseconds": 1000 } },
  "format_on_save": "on",
  "soft_wrap": "editor_width",
  "tab_size": 2,
  "assistant": {
    "default_model": {
      "provider": "anthropic",
      "model": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514"
    }
  },
  "terminal": {
    "font_family": "JetBrains Mono",
    "font_size": 13
  }
}
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Keybindings 

// ~/.config/zed/keymap.json
[
  {
    "context": "Editor",
    "bindings": {
      "cmd-shift-p": "command_palette::Toggle",
      "cmd-p": "file_finder::Toggle",
      "cmd-shift-f": "search::SelectNextMatch",
      "cmd-b": "workspace::ToggleLeftDock",
      "cmd-j": "terminal_panel::ToggleFocus"
    }
  }
]
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Extensions 

# Install extensions from the Extensions panel
# or via CLI:
zed extensions install toml
zed extensions install docker
zed extensions install prisma
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Useful Links

Building developer tools? Check out my developer tools on Apify for ready-made web scrapers, or email spinov001@gmail.com for custom solutions.

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