What category does Zed belong to?

Zed is a AI Code Generation tool with expertise in TypeScript, AI/ML.

How do I get started with Zed?

Visit the official Zed website to get started. You can access it through the 'Visit Website' button on this page.

Zed - AI Code Generation Tool for MVP Building

AI Code Generation • Freemium

Zed helps experienced developers code collaboratively with fast, native AI agent integrations.

zed.dev

Best for:

• Pair programming and live collaboration with low-latency multiplayer editing
• Developers wanting native AI agent integrations for code generation and refactors
• People who prefer a fast, keyboard-first native editor instead of Electron-based IDEs

Not for:

• Beginners who need lots of GUI tooling, wizards, and hand-holding
• Teams that depend heavily on the VS Code extension marketplace
• Organizations needing mature enterprise plugins or guaranteed vendor support

Zed is an open-source, native IDE written in Rust that focuses on speed, multiplayer editing, and a built-in "AI Agent" system. It isn’t a VS Code fork — it’s a different editor designed for people who actually write code (you’ll notice the editor ergonomics and keyboard-first interactions are aimed at real developers rather than newcomers). I've used Zed to pair-program and to experiment with integrating LLMs for small code tasks. The standout is the AI Agent system: you can hook it up to third-party models and drive workflows (refactors, tests, quick scaffolding) without constantly switching apps. The multiplayer features are smooth and feel native, which makes short pairing sessions painless compared to screen-sharing hacks. That said, there are trade-offs. The ecosystem is much smaller than VS Code’s — fewer extensions, themes, and integrations. If your workflow depends on a specific extension or an enterprise plugin, Zed likely won’t replace your editor yet. The UI and shortcuts assume you know what you’re doing; it’s not aimed at beginners or product folks who want GUIs everywhere. Also, it’s freemium, so expect some advanced features or cloud conveniences behind a paywall. When to use it: you want a fast, native editor for serious coding sessions, want built-in AI model access, or need lightweight multiplayer collaboration. When to skip it: you rely on a mature extension marketplace, prefer an editor with lots of GUI helpers, or need polished enterprise support. Overall, Zed is exciting for devs who value speed and extensibility via AI, but it’s not a drop-in replacement for a full VS Code ecosystem yet.

Zed is an open-source, native IDE written in Rust that focuses on speed, multiplayer editing, and a built-in "AI Agent" system. It isn’t a VS Code fork — it’s a different editor designed for people who actually write code (you’ll notice the editor ergonomics and keyboard-first interactions are aimed at real developers rather than newcomers).

I've used Zed to pair-program and to experiment with integrating LLMs for small code tasks. The standout is the AI Agent system: you can hook it up to third-party models and drive workflows (refactors, tests, quick scaffolding) without constantly switching apps. The multiplayer features are smooth and feel native, which makes short pairing sessions painless compared to screen-sharing hacks.

That said, there are trade-offs. The ecosystem is much smaller than VS Code’s — fewer extensions, themes, and integrations. If your workflow depends on a specific extension or an enterprise plugin, Zed likely won’t replace your editor yet. The UI and shortcuts assume you know what you’re doing; it’s not aimed at beginners or product folks who want GUIs everywhere. Also, it’s freemium, so expect some advanced features or cloud conveniences behind a paywall.

When to use it: you want a fast, native editor for serious coding sessions, want built-in AI model access, or need lightweight multiplayer collaboration. When to skip it: you rely on a mature extension marketplace, prefer an editor with lots of GUI helpers, or need polished enterprise support. Overall, Zed is exciting for devs who value speed and extensibility via AI, but it’s not a drop-in replacement for a full VS Code ecosystem yet.

Tradeoffs:

Zed offers speed and native AI agent integrations but trades off a mature extension ecosystem and some beginner-friendly UI; some features may be behind freemium tiers.