After I read the blogpost it was the first time I was thinking of checking out the editor.
Is this the beginning of the end of the AI hype for developers?
The catchphrase of Zed is, the world’s fastest AI code editor. So why are they allowing us to disable all AI features?
I think their point of view is very pragmatic. Most AI tools prefer to divide people in AI optimists and AI pessimists. And all other situations are swept under the rug.
Sadly Zed is in the shadow of Cursor and Windsurf. As far as I know you can turn off some AI features, but not all, in those apps.
The question is if they are going to follow Zed? My gut says no.
The following question is, are going developers going to pick Zed over Cursor or Windsurf because of the versatile AI choices?
My way of working at the moment
I'm using the Jetbrains editors, and I rely on the auto complete to make the typing faster.
I'm using AI to write bigger pieces of code, so basically as a typist with some technical knowledge. And for things I'm not sure of.
I do it in the browser without logging in.
While it is a multi step process instead of using an IDE chat module, I found that the process made me more aware of the generated code.
I used Cursor for a while and it was quicker, but I payed less attention to the code. And that was a red flag for me.
AI providers make not logging in a very annoying experience. So I think it will not be long before I will explore running local AI's.
I open the floor
I invite the AI optimists who think we won't even need editors in the future because AI is just going to write machine code from the specs and code history.
I also invite the AI pessimists that think AIs' usability is going to get crushed because of AI slop.
And everyone in between.
Think about your current way of working, and how would you improve it? Let us know it in the comments.
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