Developer Switches from VS Code to Open-Source Editor Zed

Following years of reliance on Visual Studio Code (VS Code), a developer has transitioned to Zed, a new open-source code editor, citing performance and resource consumption issues with VS Code. The switch prioritized speed and clarity over feature density, with Zed offering a native feel and a clean user interface.

Unlike VS Code, which is based on Electron, Zed is built using Rust and leverages the GPU directly for rendering, resulting in significantly improved performance. This includes responsive typing, even with large files, and reduced laptop fan usage. The default interface is intentionally minimalist, with a clean color scheme and syntax highlighting, minimizing the need for extensive customization.

Zed offers a range of customization options comparable to VS Code, allowing users to adjust various aspects of the editor. Key bindings can be set to mimic VS Code shortcuts, and a built-in Vim mode provides a faster experience than VS Code extensions. While the extension ecosystem is smaller than VS Code’s, Zed integrates essential features like Git integration and real-time collaboration natively.

Zed also distinguishes itself through seamless AI integration, including Agentic editing for delegating tasks to an AI assistant and advanced text prediction. Real-time collaboration is built-in, enabling instant workspace sharing with teammates without the need for external packages. Zed’s open-source nature provides transparency and allows for community review of the codebase, available on platforms like GitHub.

While the transition from VS Code involved a learning curve, the developer highly recommends Zed for those prioritizing speed and a focused development environment. Alternative code editors like Kate are also available for users seeking alternatives to VS Code.