Introduction: From Neovim to Zed — A Skeptic’s Journey
I’ve been a Neovim user for years — fast, minimal, deeply customizable. Occasionally, I used VSCode when I needed some quick GUI comfort. But recently, with all the buzz around AI code editors, code agents, and so-called “vibe coding”, I started feeling a bit of FOMO.
I wasn’t sure if I was missing out or just resisting the trend, so I decided to explore these AI-powered developer tools, mostly to confirm that copy-pasting from ChatGPT into Neovim was still the superior workflow.
🧭 Why I Chose Zed Over Cursor or Cline
I initially considered Cursor and Cline, both of which are marketed as “AI-native IDEs.” But what really caught my attention was when a colleague — an old-school Emacs user — switched to Zed and wouldn’t stop talking about it.
I had actually downloaded Zed months ago. But like many developers, the idea of learning a new IDE and adjusting to a new AI agent felt overwhelming. So, it sat untouched.
Three weeks ago, I finally decided to dive in and give Zed a real chance.
⚙️ Setting Up Zed: Surprisingly Smooth
The installation process was simple and fast. Zed currently supports macOS and Linux, and the installer was lightweight. Once opened, I was greeted with a minimalist interface — no clutter, just code.
✅ Key Setup Highlights:
Instant startup (feels faster than VSCode)
Built-in AI agent called Zed AI
No configuration hell — starts working out of the box
Supports Git, LSP, AI chat, and collaborative coding
As a Neovim user who loves tweaking .vimrc files, I was pleasantly surprised at how Zed got out of my way and let me just... code.
🤖 AI Agent Experience: Better Than Expected
I came in as an AI-skeptic, especially around agents that auto-complete, refactor, or suggest changes. But Zed’s AI is more assistant than overlord — it responds to prompts, understands context, and even explains code in natural language.
🧩 What the AI Can Do:
Inline code suggestions
Explain code snippets
Answer technical questions
Generate boilerplate or refactor code
You can chat with Zed AI like ChatGPT — but directly inside your editor. And it actually feels helpful, especially when you’re stuck on a bug or exploring unfamiliar libraries.
💻 Coding Experience: Minimal, Focused, Powerful
Zed has a distraction-free UI. If you love terminal-style focus but want some modern magic, this is perfect. It doesn’t bombard you with panels, tabs, or extensions.
🧑💻 Key Coding Features:
Lightning-fast search and navigation
Built-in Git integration
Support for LSP (Language Server Protocol)
Multiplayer coding (like Google Docs for devs)
Unlike VSCode, which can feel bloated with extensions, Zed is snappy and respects your flow. It reminded me of why I fell in love with Neovim in the first place — but with smart upgrades.
🙃 What I Didn’t Like
As much as I enjoyed using Zed, it’s not perfect.
❌ Cons:
Still in early development — some features are limited or experimental.
AI sometimes guesses wrong — it’s helpful, but not a replacement for your brain.
Linux version isn’t as polished — occasional bugs.
Customization is limited compared to Neovim or Emacs.
Also, if you’re a power user who likes to build your editor from scratch, Zed might feel a bit too “opinionated” at first.
🔄 Neovim vs Zed: Will I Switch?
This is the big question. After 3 weeks with Zed, here’s where I stand:
Neovim vs Zed: Will I Switch?
So, will I leave Neovim forever? Probably not. But for AI-assisted workflows, especially for rapid prototyping, pair programming, or trying new stacks, Zed is absolutely staying on my machine.
🧠 Final Verdict: Is Zed Worth the Hype?
Yes — with caveats.
Zed is not just another AI code editor. It’s fast, clean, smart, and genuinely improves certain coding tasks. For devs like me who value minimalism, but also want to explore the future of AI-assisted coding, Zed strikes a good balance.
⭐ Final Rating:
8.5/10
Great for modern workflows, but still catching up to the depth of long-established editors.
Zed is a lightweight, AI-powered code editor built for speed, collaboration, and productivity.
Ideal for devs curious about AI assistants and tired of bloated IDEs.
Offers built-in AI chat, LSP support, and multiplayer coding.
Still lacks some customization options and plugin ecosystem.
A promising tool for the future of AI-assisted software development.
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