Zed Text Editor. A VSCode alternative?

Summary

In this video, the presenter introduces Z, a new open-source text editor developed by Z Industries. Highlighting its use of Rust for speed and GPU utilization for responsiveness, the video compares Z favorably to VS Code. Features like an integrated chat for collaboration and native support for GitHub copilot are showcased. While acknowledging Z's limited plugin ecosystem and availability only on macOS and Linux, the presenter praises its performance, especially when opening large files, and encourages viewers to try it out.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The Z text editor is a new, open-source project developed by Z Industries.
• 💻 It's written in Rust, which contributes to its speed and efficiency.
• 🔥 Z editor is in an early stage of development, so it doesn't have all the features of more established text editors like VS Code.
• 🚀 A standout feature of Z is its use of GPU acceleration, which is designed to make coding at 'the speed of thought'.
• 👥 It includes a unique chat feature for collaboration within companies or groups, similar to a screen session.
• 🔧 Z editor has a Vim mode that is praised for its performance, even when typing at high speeds.
• 🌐 The editor is currently available for macOS and Linux, with a Windows version in development.
• 📦 It has a limited plugin ecosystem compared to VS Code, but the most essential tools are available.
• 🔗 Z editor has a native implementation of GitHub Copilot, eliminating the need for extra plugins.
• 📈 The editor is designed to be smooth and fast, even when opening very large files, which is a significant advantage over VS Code.
• 🎥 The presenter, Jurgen, recommends trying Z editor for those who prioritize performance and are interested in new tools.

Q & A

What is Z Text Editor, and who developed it?

Z Text Editor is an open-source text editor developed by Z Industries. It is designed for fast, efficient coding and integrates GPU acceleration for high performance.

Why is Z Text Editor faster than VS Code?

Z Text Editor is faster than VS Code because it is developed using the Rust programming language and leverages the GPU for increased performance, whereas VS Code is built on Electron and TypeScript, which can introduce latency.

What are the key features that differentiate Z Text Editor from other text editors?

Key features of Z Text Editor include GPU acceleration, native support for Vim mode with minimal lag, a built-in chat feature for team collaboration, GitHub integration, and AI tools like OpenAI’s GPT-4.

How does Z Text Editor's Vim mode compare to VS Code's Vim mode?

Z Text Editor's Vim mode is highly responsive and smooth, particularly for proficient Vim users who type quickly, whereas VS Code's Vim mode may exhibit lag due to its Electron-based framework.

What collaboration features are available in Z Text Editor?

Z Text Editor includes a built-in chat feature that allows team members within an organization or GitHub group to collaborate in real-time on the same file, similar to Google Docs collaboration.

Which platforms currently support Z Text Editor?

Z Text Editor is currently available on macOS and Linux. Windows support is still under development.

What programming languages and tools does Z Text Editor support?

Z Text Editor supports several programming languages, with syntax highlighting and auto-completion. It can automatically download necessary language-specific extensions, and it also supports tools like Docker.

How does Z Text Editor handle large files compared to VS Code?

Z Text Editor is significantly faster when opening large files. For example, it opened a large text file over a gigabyte in size much faster than VS Code, which took several seconds to process.

Does Z Text Editor have native support for GitHub and AI tools?

Yes, Z Text Editor has native support for GitHub, allowing users to log in with their GitHub accounts, and it integrates GitHub Copilot. It also supports AI tools like OpenAI's GPT-4 and Claude, which can assist in coding tasks.

What are the current limitations of Z Text Editor compared to VS Code?

The main limitations of Z Text Editor are its smaller plugin ecosystem and lack of Windows support. While it offers core features for coding, it doesn’t yet have the extensive plugin variety that VS Code offers.