In simple English
Zed is a program for writing and editing computer code. It opens instantly and stays smooth even in huge projects. You can invite other people to edit the same file with you in real time. It is built to run directly on your computer hardware for maximum speed. It is free to use, and the source code is open for anyone to inspect.
What it is
Zed is a high-performance code editor written in Rust (a programming language known for speed and safety) by the creators of Atom. It uses your computer graphics card to draw text on your screen without lag.
What it is good for
Solo builders who want a modern code editor that opens instantly and uses very little memory. It removes the frustrating slowdowns common in web-based text editors.
- Opens large files and projects instantly without freezing your computer.
- Allows multiple people to edit the same document together live.
- Uses your graphics card for smooth scrolling and fast text rendering.
- Requires a modern computer with graphics capabilities for the best performance.
- Has fewer plugins and extensions than older, established text editors.
- Uses a custom and GPL licence mix that requires careful reading for commercial work.
Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text
Git and Rust
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Download Zed directly from the official website at https://zed.dev/download or install it using your operating system's package manager.