Getting Started with Zed

What is Zed?

Zed is an open-source, high-performance code editor built for speed, collaboration, and modern AI-assisted workflows. Created by the team behind Atom and Tree-sitter, Zed combines a GPU-accelerated UI with real-time multiplayer editing and built-in AI — including the Agent Panel, edit prediction, and an inline assistant.

• Open source: Developed in the open at zed-industries/zed
• GPU-accelerated: Smooth scrolling and rendering even in large projects
• Collaboration: Real-time multiplayer editing and shared projects
• Built-in AI: Agent Panel for longer tasks, edit prediction while you type, and inline assistant for quick edits

System Requirements

Before installing Zed, confirm your system meets the official requirements:

macOS

• Fully supported: macOS Monterey 12 and newer
• Supported releases: Ventura through Tahoe
• Partial support: Big Sur and Catalina — screen sharing is unavailable
• Processor: Apple Silicon or Intel 64-bit

Linux

• Architecture: x86_64 or aarch64
• Graphics: Vulkan 1.3 capable GPU and drivers
• Desktop integration: XDG portals (for file dialogs, screen sharing, and related features)

Windows

• OS: Windows 10 version 1903+ or Windows 11 22H2+
• Graphics: DirectX 11 capable GPU

Installing Zed

Pick the install path for your operating system.

macOS

1. Download or use Homebrew

   Visit the official download page and get the latest macOS build, or install with Homebrew:

   brew install --cask zed

   For the preview channel:

   brew install --cask zed@preview

2. Install the application

   If you downloaded a .dmg, open it and drag Zed into your Applications folder.

3. Launch Zed

   Open Zed from Applications (or Spotlight). On first launch, macOS Gatekeeper may ask you to confirm opening the app.

Windows

1. Download or use winget

   Get the installer from the download page, or install with Windows Package Manager:

   winget install -e --id ZedIndustries.Zed

2. Run the installer and launch

   Complete the installer prompts, then start Zed from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

Linux

1. Install with the official script

   Stable channel:

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

   Preview channel:

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

2. Uninstall (when needed)

   To remove a script-based install:

   zed --uninstall

Initial Setup

When you first launch Zed, you'll land on the welcome page and can complete a few optional setup steps:

1. Welcome page

   From the welcome page you can open a recent project, browse for a folder, sign in for collaboration, or jump into settings and documentation links.

2. Create an Account (Optional)

   You can use Zed without an account. Signing in enables collaboration features and account-linked services. Click Sign Up / Sign In and follow the prompts.

   Your Zed account is used for collaboration and related cloud features. Review privacy details on the official site before enabling cloud AI providers.

3. Choose Theme and Settings

   Pick a theme and basic editor preferences. You can change everything later in the Settings Editor (⌘, on macOS / Ctrl, on Linux/Windows).

4. Coming from another editor

   Zed can feel familiar quickly depending on your background:

   • VS Code: Many shortcuts and workflows overlap; use the Command Palette when something differs
   • Vim: Enable "vim_mode": true in settings
   • Helix: Enable "helix_mode": true in settings

   You can combine modes carefully with other settings, but start with one familiar modal editing mode until your muscle memory settles.

Creating Your First Project

Now that Zed is installed, open a project folder and start editing.

1. Open a Project

   From the welcome page choose Open Folder…, or use the shortcut below. You can also open from a terminal with the Zed CLI:

   zed ~/projects/my-app

   Action	macOS	Linux/Windows
   Open folder / project	⌘O	CtrlO

2. Navigate to Your Project Directory

   Select an existing project folder, or create a new folder first and open it in Zed.

3. Start Coding

   Once the folder is open you can create files, browse the project panel, and open the terminal:

   Action	macOS	Linux/Windows
   New file	⌘N	CtrlN
   Toggle terminal	Ctrl`	Ctrl`
   Command Palette	⌘ShiftP	CtrlShiftP

Essential Commands

Memorize these early — they cover most day-one workflows:

Settings Editor

Open the Settings Editor with ⌘, (macOS) or Ctrl, (Linux/Windows). You can search settings in the UI or edit JSON directly for advanced options.

• Theme: Change the editor's appearance
• Font: Select your preferred programming font and size
• Tab Size: Set your preferred indentation level
• Format on Save: Run the language formatter when you save
• Vim / Helix mode: Optional modal editing

Example Settings Configuration

    json
    Copy

{
  "theme": "One Dark",
  "ui_font_size": 14,
  "buffer_font_size": 15,
  "tab_size": 2,
  "soft_tabs": true,
  "format_on_save": "on",
  "vim_mode": false
}

Language Setup via Extensions

Zed ships with strong support for many languages. For additional languages, themes, and tools, open Extensions:

Search for a language extension, install it, and reopen a file of that type so the grammar and language server can activate. See the Extensions tutorial for deeper coverage.

Try Built-in AI

Zed includes AI tools you can try as soon as providers are configured:

• Agent Panel: Longer multi-step coding tasks and project-aware conversations
• Inline Assistant: Quick transform or generate code at the cursor / selection
• Edit Prediction: Ghost-text style completions while typing (provider-dependent)

Install the Zed CLI

Opening projects from the terminal (zed ., zed path/to/file) is often the fastest workflow.

• macOS: Open the Command Palette and run cli: install to install the zed command on your PATH
• Linux: The install script typically places the CLI for you
• Windows: The installer / package manager path usually exposes the CLI; verify with zed --help

What's Next?

With Zed installed and a project open, continue to the interface overview to learn the workspace layout, panels, and Command Palette workflows.