Thanks to its incredible versatility and massive extension ecosystem, VS Code has been the undisputed champion of code editors. But lately, that convenience has felt heavy with sluggish performance and unusual resource consumption. That’s why I have decided to move on from the comfort zone and switch to a new open-source competitor that promises to redefine my coding setup: Zed.

Let me detail the breaking point with VS Code and explore why this performance-obsessed, Rust-powered editor is the first tool in a long time that has made me excited to open a new file.

Zed has a native feel and excellent performance

Not electron-based

When I talk about native feel, I mean that Zed doesn’t feel like a web application as a desktop tool (unlike VS Code). Zed is built in Rust and leverages the GPU directly for rendering. This translates into performance improvements.

For instance, typing feels instantly responsive, even across massive files. There is no delay between hitting a key and seeing the character appear, which is crucial for maintaining coding flow state.

I noticed my laptop fan spinning down almost immediately after quitting VS Code and launching Zed.

The default interface is striking: it’s clean, intentional, and less cluttered than a standard VS Code setup burdened by theme packs and icon extensions. The default color scheme and syntax highlighting are crisp and easy on the eyes.

I don’t feel compelled to install a dozen extensions just to make the editor feel good or look modern. For me, the switch was about prioritizing speed and clarity over the number of features, and Zed delivers that polish instantly.

Range of customization options

Right up there with VS Code

When it comes to customization, Zed is right up there with VS Code. You can head into Settings > Appearance and tweak every aspect of the editor.

Coming from years of VS Code muscle memory, the first thing I did was set my base keymap to VS Code. This allowed me to instantly use my old shortcuts for things like file navigation and split-pane management.

For those, like me, who enjoy modal editing, the built-in Vim mode is excellent. Because it’s a native feature, it feels faster than any Vim extension I used in VS Code.

Being the new kid on the block, Zed doesn’t have thousands of extensions to choose from. However, many features that require a third-party extension in VS Code are native to Zed. The best examples are the lightning-fast Git integration and collaborative editing features.

In short, while I can’t find an extension for every single niche tool I use in VS Code, Zed ensures that every extension I do install is of high quality, fast, and secure.

Smooth AI integration

Seamless rather than bolted on

While VS Code relies on the GitHub Copilot extension, Zed bakes AI into its DNA.

For instance, with Agentic editing, I can delegate complex tasks to the AI agent. It feels like a true coding partner, not just a predictive text generator.

Zed also offers excellent text prediction, where it displays the whole block of code I’m about to write. It’s right up there with some of the best AI models out there. There is even an option to select a piece of code and use the AI assistant to perform small tasks.

Other useful features include outline view, robust text and line manipulation, Markdown preview, the ability to set custom scripts to speed up repetitive tasks, LSP (Language Server Protocol) structure that optimizes language intelligence without the bloat of individual extensions, and more. Overall, Zed ticks all the right boxes from day one, and you won’t have a hard time switching from VS Code.

Built-in collaboration

Work with your team like a pro

The feature that surprised me the most – and one that killed my need for certain VS Code extensions – is Zed’s native real-time collaboration.

With Zed, collaboration is just there. I don’t have to install a package. I open the command palette and tell Zed to share my current workspace. My teammate receives a link, clicks it, and they are in.

What I love most is the speed and integration. When they join, their cursor moves instantly. Because the core editor is so fast and lightweight, sharing the session doesn’t introduce any noticeable stuttering or lag for either of us.

And as the title suggests, Zed is an open-source solution. The entire source code is available on sites like GitHub for review. Any researcher or developer can inspect it and ensure there aren’t any hidden backdoors.

Lightweight and lightning-fast

The transition from a long-time champion like VS Code to a newcomer like Zed wasn’t without its initial hurdles. While Zen is still maturing its ecosystem – and yes, I’ve had to re-learn a few shortcuts – the core commitment to performance and a clean, modern interface is a non-negotiable win for me.

If you prioritize speed and a focused environment over feature density, I can’t recommend Zed enough. That said, if Zed doesn’t work for you, check out Kate, which is another capable VS Code alternative out there.

Zed