Zed is a code editor built entirely from scratch in Rust by some of the original creators of Atom and Electron, aiming to fix the performance problems of Electron-based editors. It sits around #16 in real-world usage (roughly 7.3%), known for raw speed and built-in real-time multiplayer collaboration.
📌 Quick facts
Type: Lightweight, GPU-accelerated editor
Made by: Zed Industries
License: Free, open-source core
Platforms: macOS, Linux (Windows in progress)
Primary use case: Fast general-purpose editing and real-time pair programming
Key features
- GPU-accelerated rendering — built for near-instant scrolling and typing even in huge files
- Built-in real-time multiplayer editing, letting multiple developers co-edit the same file live
- Native (not Electron-based) — dramatically lower memory and CPU use than most modern editors
- Built-in AI assistant panel for inline code generation and chat
- Vim mode available for developers who want modal editing
- Fast fuzzy file search and project-wide symbol navigation
Getting started
Zed is a free download for macOS and Linux:
# macOS (Homebrew)
brew install --cask zed
# Linux (install script)
curl -f https://zed.dev/install.sh | sh
🎯 Best for: developers who want the fastest possible editing experience and built-in pair programming, without an Electron-based editor's memory overhead.