AI-powered code editor Zed introduces manual mode, foregoing AI assistance
In the realm of text editors, Zed, a Rust-based editor, has made a significant move by introducing an option to completely disable AI features. This decision comes in response to user requests, particularly those with corporate rules prohibiting the use of public AI tools.
Zed's development team has a notable history, having previously created Atom, an editor that gained popularity for popularizing Electron apps. However, three years ago, Microsoft, the owner of GitHub, discontinued Atom in favour of its own Electron-based editor, Visual Studio Code (VS Code). The following day, Zed was announced.
One of the key advantages of Zed is its size. Weighing in at about 2 MB, the Rufus tool for Windows and the cross-platform USBImager are significantly smaller compared to other editors like Zed. In contrast, Electron apps, such as Balena Etcher and GitHub's VS Code, have compressed downloads in the region of 150-200 MB.
Another distinctive feature of Zed is its use of conflict-free replicated data types. This allows for collaborative online editing without relying on a specific cloud provider, offering a more decentralised approach.
The new AI feature disablement option is available in the latest Preview build of Zed (0.197). The feature's impact on Zed's user base, however, remains unclear. Search results do not provide specific data or statistics on how many Zed users have benefited from this new feature. The official Zed release pages mention stable and preview releases but do not include user statistics or impact metrics related to this particular feature.
Despite the lack of publicly available data, the demand for this feature among Zed users has been evident. Users have been requesting this option for about a year, highlighting a growing need for editors that cater to diverse user needs and corporate policies.
In conclusion, Zed's introduction of an option to disable AI features offers a unique solution for users with corporate restrictions. While the impact of this feature on Zed's user base remains to be seen, the demand for such a feature indicates a growing need for editors that cater to diverse user needs.
In light of Zed's recent decision to offer an AI feature disablement option, the development team could consider integrating cloud-based software storage for AI-related components, thus allowing users to address their corporate cloud policies. Additionally, Zed's small size, coupled with its use of conflict-free replicated data types for collaborative editing, could potentially pave the way forfuture advancements in AI technology, backed by its robust Rust-based foundation.
