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Experiencing Zed Editor on Linux: Why I Switched from VS Code to a Rust-based Editor

Development tutorial - IT technology blog
Development tutorial - IT technology blog

Why I Decided to Part Ways with VS Code for Zed

After over six months of using Zed on Ubuntu, I have completely removed VS Code from my workflow. Have you ever seen VS Code consume up to 2GB of RAM just to open a React project? If so, Zed is your lifesaver. The typing experience on Zed is distinct; it’s incredibly smooth with zero input latency—something web-based editors struggle to achieve.

Unlike VS Code or Atom which run on Electron, Zed is built entirely in Rust. It leverages the GPU for UI rendering through the GPUI framework. As a result, the editor opens instantly in less than 0.5 seconds. When refactoring a codebase of over 50,000 lines, Zed remains responsive. This speed keeps my flow state intact, without the annoying lag when searching for files.

Where Does Zed Sit Between VS Code and Neovim?

To give you a better idea, let’s look at Zed’s position in the current programming tool ecosystem:

  • VS Code: Convenient, rich plugin ecosystem, but extremely heavy and slow due to the Electron overhead.
  • Neovim: Ultra-lightweight, lightning-fast, but has a steep learning curve. You might spend an entire week just getting LSP to work stably.
  • Zed Editor: Performance approaching Neovim but with a modern GUI that’s as easy to use as VS Code. It’s the ideal sweet spot for those who crave speed but want to avoid complex configuration commands.

Real-world Review After 6 Months of “Field Use”

Valuable Pros

  • Hardware Performance: Thanks to Vulkan rendering on Linux, scrolling through thousands of lines of code is buttery smooth. Even with multiple tabs open, RAM usage typically stays around 300-500MB.
  • Real-time Collaboration: The Zed Channels feature allows multiple people to code on the same file simultaneously. This experience is significantly more stable than VS Code’s Live Share, with virtually no latency when colleagues are typing.
  • Built-in LSP: Features like Go-to-definition and Auto-complete are extremely responsive the moment you open a project.

Current Limitations

  • Extension Ecosystem: The current number of plugins can’t yet compete with the massive VS Code library. However, popular languages like Python, Rust, Go, and TypeScript already have official support.
  • JSON-based Configuration: Zed lacks a graphical settings menu. All adjustments must be made via a config file, which might feel unfamiliar to those transitioning from Windows.

Fastest Way to Install Zed on Linux

Zed now officially supports Linux distributions. I recommend using the official installation script to ensure you receive the latest weekly updates.

Method 1: Install via Official Script (Recommended)

Simply open your terminal and paste this command:

curl -f https://zed.dev/install.sh | sh

The script will automatically detect your CPU architecture (x86_64 or ARM) and download the optimized build for your machine.

Method 2: Using Flatpak

For those who prefer managing applications via Flatpak to keep the system clean, run:

flatpak install flathub dev.zed.Zed

Configuring Zed for Better Productivity

Press Ctrl + , to open the configuration file. Below is the settings.json file I’ve tweaked for daily programming:

{
  "theme": "One Dark",
  "buffer_font_family": "JetBrains Mono",
  "buffer_font_size": 14,
  "ui_font_size": 16,
  "autosave": "on_focus_change",
  "vim_mode": false,
  "terminal": {
    "font_family": "Fira Code",
    "copy_on_selection": true
  }
}

Setting up LSP and Formatter for Projects

Zed is very intelligent with language management. When you open a Python file for the first time, it will automatically prompt you to install pyright. To keep your code clean, you should enable auto-format on save feature:

{
  "languages": {
    "Python": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "formatter": {
        "external": {
          "command": "black",
          "arguments": ["-"]
        }
      }
    },
    "Rust": {
      "format_on_save": "on"
    }
  }
}

Shortcut Tips for Beginners

If you’re already used to VS Code, the good news is that Zed retains most of the classic shortcuts. Ctrl + p for quick file searching, and Ctrl + Shift + p to call the Command Palette. However, I recommend exploring Zed’s default shortcuts as they are designed to be minimal and logical for high-speed workflows.

Conclusion

Zed Editor isn’t just another code editor; it’s a testament to how fast software can be when properly optimized. If you’re using a Linux laptop with modest specs, or simply want to regain the feeling of lag-free coding, try Zed now. Even though it is evolving rapidly with weekly releases, Zed is truly mature enough to be a primary tool for developers.

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