Zed Editor Setup

Introduction

Install Zed, the high-performance editor built with Rust and GPU rendering

Your code editor is where you spend most of your development time. Optimizing it for your workflow dramatically increases productivity. This guide covers zed editor setup comprehensively.

Prerequisites

A computer running macOS, Linux, or Windows
The editor installed from official sources
Basic familiarity with your operating system
Internet connection for extensions/plugins
At least 4 GB RAM for comfortable usage

Installation and Setup

Editor Installation

bash

# VS Code - Download from official site or:
# macOS
brew install --cask visual-studio-code

# Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo snap install code --classic

# Neovim
brew install neovim  # macOS
sudo apt install neovim  # Ubuntu

# Verify
code --version
nvim --version

Core Configuration

Essential Configuration

Configure your editor for an optimal development experience:

json

// VS Code settings.json example
{
  "editor.fontSize": 14,
  "editor.fontFamily": "JetBrains Mono, Fira Code, monospace",
  "editor.fontLigatures": true,
  "editor.tabSize": 2,
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.minimap.enabled": false,
  "editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled": true,
  "files.autoSave": "afterDelay",
  "terminal.integrated.fontSize": 13
}

Advanced Features

Productivity Extensions

Must-have extensions for web development:

ESLint: JavaScript/TypeScript linting
Prettier: Code formatting
GitLens: Enhanced Git integration
Error Lens: Inline error highlighting
Thunder Client: API testing
Auto Rename Tag: HTML/JSX tag renaming

bash

# Install extensions from command line
code --install-extension dbaeumer.vscode-eslint
code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode
code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens

Tips and Best Practices

Learn keyboard shortcuts to minimize mouse usage
Use workspace/project features for multi-folder setups
Configure auto-save to prevent data loss
Set up code snippets for frequently typed patterns
Use integrated terminal instead of switching windows
Customize the sidebar and panel layout for your workflow
Regularly review and clean up installed extensions

Troubleshooting

Installation or startup issues

Try resetting editor settings to defaults. Disable extensions one by one to find conflicts. Check available disk space and memory.

Performance issues

Disable unused extensions. Reduce the number of open files/tabs. Increase memory allocation in settings if available.

Configuration not taking effect

Restart the application after making changes. Check for syntax errors in configuration files. Verify the config file is in the correct location. Check for higher-priority settings overriding your changes.

Conclusion

You have successfully set up zed editor setup. A well-configured editor is an investment that pays dividends in productivity and enjoyment. Continue exploring our related guides for more tools and configurations in this category.