Building Zed's agentic editing (Changelog Interviews #640)
May 7, 2025
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Nathan Sobo, co-founder of Zed and an advocate for improving developer tools, discusses the revolutionary concept of agentic editing. This AI-native editor enhances collaborative coding at lightning speed. He dives into the challenges of integrating AI in software development, balancing control with unpredictability. The conversation also touches on emerging methodologies like vibe coding and the latest features in Zed, such as dark mode and Edit Prediction. Sobo reflects on the importance of user experience while seamlessly advancing innovation in coding tools.
Zed's agentic editing introduces an AI-native editor that significantly enhances real-time collaboration among developers in a multiplayer environment.
Faster build times are highlighted as critical for developers, with Depot providing tools to optimize builds and reduce generation times.
The integration of AI technologies within Zed aims to meet modern development demands, enhancing user experiences beyond traditional coding tools.
Zed's evolution is driven by community feedback, ensuring continuous improvement in features while balancing subscription-based monetization with user autonomy.
Deep dives
Introduction to Zed Agentic
Zed has introduced Agentic, an AI-native editor designed specifically for developers, enhancing productivity through faster builds and streamlined workflows. The integration of machine learning capabilities allows the editor to assist in real-time coding tasks, enabling developers to leverage AI to optimize their coding experiences. Nathan Sobo elaborates on how Zed caters to daily users, especially highlighting the commitment to creating an efficient environment that facilitates increased developer output and collaboration. By embracing these advancements, Zed positions itself competitively in the market of coding tools.
Faster Builds for Competitive Advantage
The podcast emphasizes the significance of faster build times, asserting that teams equipped with speedier build processes have a competitive edge in the tech landscape. Developers using conventional CI providers with default configurations often miss out on optimal performance and benefits. Nathan presents Depot as a solution to this problem, offering tools such as Docker builds and distributed remote caching designed to drastically reduce build generation time. This commitment to improving performance aligns with the overall mission of enabling developers to focus more on coding rather than managing slow builds.
The Rise of AI Integration in Development
As AI technologies rapidly evolve, the podcast discusses the increasing importance of integrating AI within development environments. Nathan points out that while traditional tools provide basic functionalities, they often lack the performance enhancements that modern developers require. Zed aims to bridge this gap by incorporating sophisticated AI-driven functionalities that enhance the development experience. The goal is to create an editor that not only meets the current demands of developers but also prepares them for future advancements in AI technology.
Owning the Technology for Better Experience
Nathan discusses the critical importance of owning the underlying technology stack to deliver a superior user experience with Zed. By building Zed from the ground up and maintaining complete control over its architecture, the team can ensure performance and reliability that is otherwise unattainable when relying on third-party solutions. This strategic choice empowers the team to iterate rapidly and introduce innovative features that genuinely cater to developers' needs. The result is a product that grows more capable and user-friendly with every update.
Expanding Features with a Focus on Usability
The conversation highlights Zed's recent advancements, such as adding Git integration and refining the user interface for improved usability. With the introduction of multi-buffers, users can seamlessly interact with various files and branches while coding, making the experience more intuitive and efficient. The ongoing focus on user feedback means that refinements are continuously made to enhance how developers engage with the platform. These enhancements are part of Zed’s commitment to ensuring that the user interface is not only powerful but also accessible and easy to navigate.
Business Model and Monetization Strategies
Nathan shares insights into Zed's shifting business model, which now incorporates a subscription-based approach for AI features, marking a significant step towards generating revenue while providing value to users. This strategic pivot aims to not only sustain the operation of advanced AI integrations but also to enhance the overall functionality of the editor. By allowing users to opt into paid services while maintaining the freedom to utilize open-source tools, Zed balances monetization with user autonomy. This flexibility caters to a broader audience while nurturing developers' needs for high-quality tools.
Community Feedback and Iterative Improvements
Throughout the discussion, the importance of community feedback in shaping Zed's evolution is underscored. Users are encouraged to share their experiences and suggestions, which play a crucial role in informing ongoing developments and new features. The team places a strong emphasis on ensuring that Zed remains a collaborative tool that aligns with users' workflows while addressing real pain points encountered in software development. This close connection to its user base fosters an environment where knowledge sharing and rapid iteration lead to continual enhancements and innovations.
Nathan Sobo is back talking about the next big thing for Zed—agentic editing! You now have a full-blown AI-native editor to play with. Collaborate with agents at 120fps in a natively multiplayer IDE.
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