Zed Editor Advanced Configuration: Production-Ready Technical Reference

Configuration System Overview

Configuration Format: JSON with comments (unlike VS Code's GUI + JSON hybrid or IntelliJ's XML)

• Setup Time: 15 minutes vs 2 hours (VS Code with extensions) vs half day (JetBrains)
• Breaking Point: Config schema changes between versions - settings working in 0.155 may break in 0.156

File Locations

• Global Settings:
  • macOS/Linux: ~/.config/zed/settings.json
  • Windows: %APPDATA%/Zed/settings.json
• Project Settings: .zed/settings.json (overrides global when working)
• Keybindings: ~/.config/zed/keymap.json

Critical Configuration Failures

• Trailing commas crash JSON parser despite allowing comments
• Case-sensitive filenames required
• Project settings only load on startup, not hot reload
• Settings randomly corrupt (backup essential)

Language Server Configuration

Performance Thresholds

• Memory Usage: 5-15GB total (400-600MB Zed + 2-8GB TypeScript LSP + 2-6GB rust-analyzer)
• Breaking Point: >10GB indicates server malfunction
• CPU Impact: Large codebases cause thermal throttling on MacBook Pro M2 at 80°C

TypeScript/React Production Config

{
  "languages": {
    "TypeScript": {
      "format_on_save": "off",
      "formatter": "prettier",
      "code_actions_on_format": {
        "source.organizeImports": true
      }
    }
  },
  "lsp": {
    "vtsls": {
      "settings": {
        "typescript": {
          "preferences": {
            "includeCompletionsForModuleExports": false
          },
          "suggest": {
            "autoImports": false
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Critical Failures:

• vtsls v2.1.6 breaks on projects with >200 .d.ts files (use v2.0.4)
• 500-component React apps consume 6.2-8GB RAM
• Auto-imports feature causes CPU overload

Python Production Config

{
  "languages": {
    "Python": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "formatter": [
        {
          "code_actions": {
            "source.organizeImports.ruff": true,
            "source.fixAll.ruff": true
          }
        },
        {
          "language_server": {"name": "ruff"}
        }
      ],
      "language_servers": ["pyright", "ruff"]
    }
  },
  "lsp": {
    "ruff": {
      "initialization_options": {
        "settings": {
          "lineLength": 100,
          "lint": {
            "select": ["E", "W", "F", "I"]
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Requirements: Ruff 0.6.9+ required, install Ruff extension first, old ruff-lsp deprecated since October 2024

Rust Production Config

{
  "languages": {
    "Rust": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "formatter": "language_server"
    }
  },
  "lsp": {
    "rust-analyzer": {
      "settings": {
        "rust-analyzer": {
          "check": {"command": "clippy"},
          "cargo": {
            "loadOutDirsFromCheck": true,
            "features": "all"
          },
          "procMacro": {"enable": true}
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Memory Requirements: 4.1GB for Tokio + Serde + Diesel projects, 6GB+ with bevy/yew

Team Configuration Management

Production Team Settings

{
  "formatter": "prettier",
  "format_on_save": "off",
  "tab_size": 2,
  "preferred_line_length": 100,
  "git": {
    "git_gutter": "tracked_files"
  }
}

Migration Reality:

• 8-developer team: 3 stayed (loved speed), 2 returned to VS Code (missing extensions), 3 complaining but using
• Senior developers adapt in 2 days (vim experience)
• Junior developers adapt fastest (less muscle memory)
• Frontend-first rollout recommended, backend 6 months later

Performance Optimization

Essential Performance Settings

{
  "file_scan_exclusions": [
    "**/.git", "**/node_modules", "**/target", "**/__pycache__",
    "**/dist", "**/build", "**/.next", "**/coverage", "**/tmp"
  ],
  "git": {
    "git_gutter": "tracked_files"
  },
  "project_panel": {
    "auto_fold_dirs": false,
    "git_status": false
  }
}

Critical Performance Failures

1. rust-analyzer consuming 12GB RAM on no_std embedded projects
2. File watcher explosion on Docker volume mounts
3. Git gutter freeze on 50,000-file repos with untracked changes
4. Search lockup when node_modules committed to git

Vim Mode Configuration

Working Keybindings

[
  {
    "context": "VimControl && !menu",
    "bindings": {
      "space": "vim::Leader",
      "space f": "file_finder::Toggle",
      "space b": "tab_switcher::Toggle",
      "space p": "command_palette::Toggle"
    }
  },
  {
    "context": "Editor && VimControl && !VimWaiting && !menu",
    "bindings": {
      "g d": "editor::GoToDefinition",
      "g r": "editor::FindAllReferences",
      "[ d": "editor::GoToPrevDiagnostic",
      "] d": "editor::GoToNextDiagnostic",
      "shift-k": "editor::Hover"
    }
  }
]

Vim Mode Limitations

• No :s/find/replace/g command
• Visual block mode crashes on files >1000 lines
• No macro recording
• Registers malfunction with "1p

Troubleshooting Guide

Language Server Crashes

Recovery Command: Cmd+Shift+P → "zed: restart language server"

Common Error Messages:

• "TypeError: Cannot read property 'kind' of undefined": vtsls 2.1.6 bug, downgrade to 2.0.4
• "ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '.../node_modules'": Missing dependencies, run npm install
• "memory allocation failed": Language server OOM, need more RAM

Format on Save Issues

Problem: Different formatter configs between team members causing massive git diffs
Solution: Disable globally, enable per-project only after team agreement on formatter config files

Monorepo Configuration

Strategy: Open subprojects separately, not monorepo root
Performance Impact: TypeScript language servers consume 8GB+ RAM on large monorepos

Resource Requirements

Hardware Minimums

• RAM: 32GB minimum for large TypeScript projects
• Storage: Fast SSD required for file watching
• CPU: Modern processor required for language server compilation

Alternative Comparison

Feature	Zed	VS Code	JetBrains
Config Time	15 min	2 hours	Half day
Language Servers	Manual, breaks often	Extensions handle	Built-in works
Extension Ecosystem	Tiny	Massive	Comprehensive
Settings Sync	None	Cloud sync	Account sync
Update Stability	Sometimes breaks	Rarely	Never

Critical Warnings

What Documentation Doesn't Tell You

• No settings sync in 2025
• Config schema breaking changes between versions
• Language servers consume excessive memory
• Team migration requires 6-month rollout plan
• format_on_save destroys git workflows without proper setup
• Auto-updates break production workflows

Production Blockers

• Missing Python debugger
• No macro support in vim mode
• Extension ecosystem insufficient for specialized workflows
• Memory requirements exceed typical developer hardware
• Language server reliability issues under heavy load