Zed AI

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Zed, an open-source, Rust-based code editor, has introduced a deep integration of Anthropic’s Claude models for inline code transformations, chat, and project-aware assistance, positioning itself as a fast “next‑gen” alternative to VS Code and Cursor. Commenters are split between enthusiasm for the AI workflows—especially diff-based edits and flexible context control—and concern over cloud-only models, privacy, and the risk of junior developers becoming over‑reliant on LLMs. Many also lament that core editor polish, offline or local models, and richer extensibility still lag behind, reflecting a broader tension between AI-centric roadmaps and demand for a lean, programmable native editor.

AI integration and user experience

  • Many users praise Zed’s assistant panel, inline edits, and new /workflow feature for fast, diff-based code transformations directly in the editor.
  • Others find the AI UX clunky in places (e.g., selection behavior, missing side‑by‑side diffs) or prefer simple autocomplete over chat/agents.
  • Some like that AI features can be disabled via config, but others want build-time options to strip AI entirely and worry “off” doesn’t guarantee no data upload.

Cloud vs local AI, performance, and hardware

  • Debate over local/offline autocomplete: JetBrains’ small local models show it’s possible but limited; some see local as essential for privacy, others say latency/quality make small local models not worth it yet.
  • Concerns about laptop battery and CPU/GPU load when running local LLMs.
  • Zed can use multiple providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Ollama), which some appreciate as modular and Unix-like.

Privacy, security, and workplace constraints

  • Strong worries about sending proprietary code to third‑party clouds, often incompatible with employer policies.
  • Some want explicit “privacy modes” and clear statements that code isn’t stored; they note Cursor advertises this more clearly.
  • Preference from some to connect Zed directly to an LLM provider to minimize intermediaries.

Comparisons: Zed vs Cursor, VSCode, JetBrains, Neovim, etc.

  • Cursor is repeatedly cited as having superior “modify existing code” workflows, shadow workspaces, and very strong inline suggestions.
  • Zed is praised for being native, fast, open source, and smoother than Electron-based editors, but some report basic bugs and missing language features that push them back to Neovim/VSCode.
  • Some users value Zed’s transparent prompts and hackable slash commands vs. Cursor’s opaque “magic.”

Editor fundamentals and monetization

  • Several comments wish Zed would prioritize core editor robustness, language support, and basic UX over AI and collaboration.
  • There’s demand for a “fast, programmable, native GUI” editor with rich extensibility, and skepticism that VC-funded tools can avoid AI-heavy monetization.
  • Others welcome AI subscriptions as a viable business model that keeps the core editor open-source.

Impact on learning and code understanding

  • Split views on AI’s effect on juniors: some see it as an empowering tutor; others fear overreliance, poorer PR quality, and slower skill growth.
  • Multiple people want AI that helps understand why code exists and how systems evolved (commits, tickets, invariants), not just what code does or how to write more.