Introduction
Zed Editor is a next-generation code editor designed for speed, collaboration, and developer productivity. Built by the creators of Atom, it aims to provide a seamless experience with lightning-fast performance, real-time collaboration, and deep integration with modern development workflows.
Installation on macOS
To install Zed on macOS, follow these steps:
Download the latest Zed Editor from the official website.
Open the downloaded
.dmgfile and drag Zed into the Applications folder.Launch Zed from Finder or Spotlight.
(Optional) Add Zed to your terminal by running:
ln -s /Applications/Zed.app/Contents/MacOS/zed /usr/local/bin/zed
This allows you to open projects via the terminal using:
zed .System requirements
macOS
Supported versions: Catalina (10.15) - Sequoia (15.x).
The implementation of our screen sharing feature makes use of LiveKit. The LiveKit SDK requires macOS Catalina (10.15); consequently, in v0.62.4, we dropped support for earlier macOS versions that we were initially supporting.
Linux
Zed requires a Vulkan 1.3 driver, and the following desktop portals:
org.freedesktop.portal.FileChooser org.freedesktop.portal.OpenURI org.freedesktop.portal.Secret, or org.freedesktop.Secrets
Windows
Not yet available as an official download. Can be built from source. Web
Not supported at this time. See our Platform Support issue.
Features
⚡ Blazing-Fast Performance
Zed is written in Rust, ensuring a highly optimized, low-latency experience, even for large codebases.
🔗 Native Collaboration
One of Zed’s standout features is real-time pair programming. Developers can seamlessly invite teammates to edit code together without additional extensions.
🌙 Minimalist UI
The distraction-free UI enhances focus while still providing powerful tools like fuzzy search, command palette, and intelligent autocompletion.
🔌 Extension Support
Although Zed currently has limited extension support compared to VS Code, it natively integrates with LSP (Language Server Protocol) for advanced code intelligence.
Workflow Tips • Command Palette: Press Cmd + Shift + P to access quick actions. • Fuzzy File Search: Use Cmd + P to jump between files instantly. • Multi-Cursor Editing: Hold Cmd and click to add multiple cursors. • Git Integration: Zed has built-in Git support, making it easy to manage version control directly from the editor.
🚀 Signature Feature: Collaborative Coding
Zed’s real-time collaborative editing is its defining feature. Unlike third-party extensions like Live Share in VS Code, Zed is built from the ground up for team collaboration. It enables low-latency, Google Docs-style editing, where developers can work together seamlessly.
Conclusion
Zed Editor is shaping up to be a strong contender in the modern code editor space, offering performance, collaboration, and a clean development experience. While it’s still evolving, its focus on speed and teamwork makes it an exciting choice for macOS developers.