How to Install Zed on Ubuntu: The High-Performance, Multiplayer Code Editor

Zed is a high-performance, multiplayer code editor written in Rust by the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter. Its defining trait is responsiveness: the editor renders on the GPU, launches almost instantly, and keeps keystroke latency low even when you open large files or run heavy language servers in the background.

What sets Zed apart from most fast editors is that speed does not come at the cost of features. It has native language server support, an integrated terminal, an AI assistant, and real-time collaboration that lets several developers edit the same buffers at once. For teams that pair frequently, that built-in multiplayer experience is a genuine differentiator.

On Ubuntu, Zed is not in the official archive, and the upstream script installs a tarball into your home directory that APT never sees or updates. The unofficial deb.griffo.io repository fixes this by shipping a proper .deb package, so you install and upgrade Zed through apt alongside the rest of your system.

What Makes Zed Special?

  • ⚡ GPU-accelerated UI — the interface is drawn on the GPU, so scrolling and typing stay fluid
  • 🦀 Native Rust core — compiled to a single fast binary with no web runtime layered underneath
  • 🤝 Multiplayer editing — share a project and collaborate on live buffers with follow mode and shared cursors
  • 🧠 Integrated AI assistant — inline edits and a chat panel wired to your chosen model provider
  • 🌳 Tree-sitter syntax engine — precise highlighting, structural selection, and fast navigation
  • 🔌 First-class LSP support — completions, diagnostics, and refactors from language servers out of the box
  • 🖥️ Built-in terminal — run builds and tests without switching windows
  • 🧩 Extension ecosystem — add languages, themes, and integrations as you need them

Why Use the deb.griffo.io Repository?

Compared with the upstream install script, the deb.griffo.io repository gives you:

  • Easy installation and updates using APT, the tool Ubuntu already manages software with
  • Automatic dependency handling so runtime libraries come along for the ride
  • Releases that track upstream so you are never far behind the latest Zed
  • No source compilation and no stray files left outside package management
  • Compatibility across supported Ubuntu releases from Jammy through the current LTS and beyond

Prerequisites

Make sure the following are in place first:

  • An Ubuntu system (Jammy 22.04 LTS, Noble 24.04 LTS, or newer)
  • A user account with sudo privileges
  • curl installed (sudo apt install curl if needed)
  • A graphical desktop session, since Zed is a GUI application that requires a display server

Step 1: Add the deb.griffo.io Repository

Register the signing key and repository with these commands:

# Create the keyrings directory
sudo install -d -m 0755 /etc/apt/keyrings

# Download and install the repository GPG key
curl -fsSL https://deb.griffo.io/EA0F721D231FDD3A0A17B9AC7808B4DD62C41256.asc | sudo gpg --dearmor --yes -o /etc/apt/keyrings/deb.griffo.io.gpg

# Add the repository (auto-detects your distro codename)
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/deb.griffo.io.gpg] https://deb.griffo.io/apt $(lsb_release -sc 2>/dev/null) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deb.griffo.io.list > /dev/null

# Update the package list
sudo apt update

Breaking that down:

  1. install -d creates the /etc/apt/keyrings directory with correct ownership and permissions
  2. curl … gpg --dearmor fetches the repository key and writes it in the binary form APT expects
  3. echo … tee adds the source line, with lsb_release -sc inserting your Ubuntu codename automatically
  4. apt update pulls the repository metadata so the packages become installable

Step 2: Update the Package List

If you did not run the final command above, refresh the index now:

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install Zed

Install Zed with APT:

sudo apt install zed

Ubuntu resolves the dependencies, installs the editor, and adds a launcher entry to your applications menu.

Step 4: Verify the Installation

Check that the binary responds:

zed --version

Expected output looks like:

Zed 0.196.4

Open your current project straight from the terminal:

zed .

Getting Started with Zed

Here are the first things worth setting up on a fresh Ubuntu install.

Configuration First

Zed is configured with JSON files under ~/.config/zed. Open settings from the command palette (ctrl-shift-p, then “zed: open settings”) or edit ~/.config/zed/settings.json directly:

{
  "theme": "One Dark",
  "buffer_font_family": "Ubuntu Mono",
  "buffer_font_size": 15,
  "tab_size": 2,
  "format_on_save": "on",
  "vim_mode": false,
  "telemetry": {
    "metrics": false,
    "diagnostics": false
  }
}

Custom key bindings go in ~/.config/zed/keymap.json, so you can remap actions to match your muscle memory.

Opening Files and Projects from the CLI

The zed command accepts files, directories, and multiple paths:

# Open the current folder as a project
zed .

# Open a specific file
zed src/main.rs

# Open more than one directory in a single window
zed ~/projects/api ~/projects/web

# Block until the buffer closes, so it works as an editor for other tools
zed --wait NOTES.md

Because --wait blocks, you can make Zed your Git commit editor:

git config --global core.editor "zed --wait"

Per-Language Behaviour

Zed downloads language servers on demand and lets you tune each language independently:

{
  "languages": {
    "TypeScript": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "tab_size": 2
    },
    "Go": {
      "language_servers": ["gopls"]
    }
  }
}

Use ctrl-p to fuzzy-find files, ctrl-shift-f to search the whole project, and hover for inline diagnostics produced by the language server.

Collaborating in Real Time

Zed’s multiplayer mode is one of its standout features:

  1. Sign in with GitHub from the avatar menu
  2. Open the collaboration panel with ctrl-shift-c
  3. Share the current project and invite a contact
  4. Use follow mode to track a teammate’s cursor across files

All participants edit the same live buffers, which makes pairing feel immediate.

The Integrated Terminal

Toggle the built-in terminal with `ctrl-“ and keep your build loop inside the editor:

# Runs in Zed's terminal panel, in the project directory
npm test

Keeping Zed Updated

Since Zed is a managed package, upgrading it is part of routine system maintenance:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Each upgrade pulls the newest packaged release, keeping Zed current without any manual downloads.

Other Tools from deb.griffo.io

The repository packages plenty of complementary tools for Ubuntu:

  • Neovim — the hyperextensible Vim-based editor for the terminal
  • Helix — a modal editor with LSP support built in
  • Lazygit — a fast terminal UI for Git operations
  • Ghostty — a modern terminal emulator to complement your editor

Troubleshooting

Package Not Found

If APT cannot see the zed package after adding the repository:

  1. Run sudo apt update again so the index is refreshed
  2. Confirm your Ubuntu release is supported (Jammy, Noble, or newer)
  3. Check the source list: cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deb.griffo.io.list

GPG or Key Errors

If APT reports a signature or key problem, re-import the key and refresh:

sudo install -d -m 0755 /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://deb.griffo.io/EA0F721D231FDD3A0A17B9AC7808B4DD62C41256.asc | sudo gpg --dearmor --yes -o /etc/apt/keyrings/deb.griffo.io.gpg
sudo apt update

Blank Window or Startup Crash

As a GPU application, Zed depends on working graphics drivers and a display server. On Ubuntu that usually means Wayland under GNOME. If the window fails to render, launch from a terminal to read the error output, and try forcing X11:

# Surface any startup errors
zed . 2>&1 | less

# Force the X11 backend if Wayland causes problems
WAYLAND_DISPLAY= zed .

Uninstalling

Remove the Zed package with:

sudo apt remove zed

To also detach the repository:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deb.griffo.io.list
sudo rm /etc/apt/keyrings/deb.griffo.io.gpg
sudo apt update

Conclusion

Zed proves that a modern editor can be fast without giving up language servers, AI assistance, or team collaboration. On Ubuntu, the deb.griffo.io repository reduces installation to a single apt install zed and lets you keep the editor current with your usual apt upgrade routine.

If you spend your day in a code editor and value responsiveness, Zed is worth a serious trial. Install it, open a project with zed ., and let the reduced latency speak for itself.

Resources

Disclaimer: The deb.griffo.io repository is an unofficial community project and is not affiliated with the official Debian or Ubuntu projects, or with the upstream Zed project.