Exploring Zed, an open source code editor written in Rust

Table of Contents
- Introduction to Zed
- Features of Zed Code Editor
- Collaboration Capabilities
- Zed vs. VS Code: A Comparison
1. Introduction to Zed
Zed is an open-source code editor written in Rust that offers high performance and a range of features for developers. It provides a seamless user experience and leverages a GPU-based User Interface framework for speed and efficiency.
2. Features of Zed Code Editor
GPUI Framework
Zed's speed is attributed to its GPU-based User Interface (GPUI) framework, which revolutionizes 2D user interface development for applications.
Vim Mode
Zed offers a Vim mode for users familiar with this popular code editor, although it may not be entirely Vim-compatible, introducing its own functionalities as needed.
3. Collaboration Capabilities
Zed's collaborative features allow developers to:
- Add contacts
- Share projects with collaborators
- Track collaborator activities
- Communicate via chats and channels
- Share screens for enhanced collaboration
4. Zed vs. VS Code: A Comparison
Themes
- Zed provides nine groups of themes, while VS Code offers a vast variety in its extension marketplace.
User Experience
- VS Code allows dragging editor tabs to new windows, while Zed lacks this feature.
- Zed zooms into the entire UI when zooming in, unlike VS Code.
Performance
- Zed offers superior performance compared to VS Code, as per data from the Zed team.
Collaboration
- Zed's collaboration features are built into the editor, while VS Code relies on extensions like Live Share.
- Zed provides built-in audio calls, chat servers, and screen-sharing, surpassing VS Code in collaboration capabilities.
Overall, Zed's collaboration tools are more extensive and integrated within the editor, providing a seamless collaborative experience for developers.