Extensions

Language support and extensions in Zed.

Extension System

Zed uses extensions to provide language support, themes, and additional features. Extensions are written in Rust/WebAssembly for performance.

Installing Extensions

Via Command Palette

1. Press Cmd+Shift+P
2. Search "zed: extensions"
3. Browse and install

Via Settings

Enable specific language support:

{
  "languages": {
    "Python": {
      "language_servers": ["pyright", "ruff"]
    }
  }
}

Language Support

Python

Required tools:

pip install pyright ruff
# Or via pipx
pipx install pyright ruff

Configuration:

{
  "languages": {
    "Python": {
      "language_servers": ["pyright", "ruff"],
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "formatter": [
        { "code_action": "source.organizeImports.ruff" },
        { "code_action": "source.fixAll.ruff" },
        { "language_server": { "name": "ruff" } }
      ]
    }
  },
  "lsp": {
    "pyright": {
      "settings": {
        "python.analysis": {
          "typeCheckingMode": "basic",
          "autoImportCompletions": true
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Rust

Rust support is built-in via rust-analyzer:

{
  "languages": {
    "Rust": {
      "format_on_save": "on"
    }
  },
  "lsp": {
    "rust-analyzer": {
      "initialization_options": {
        "checkOnSave": {
          "command": "clippy"
        },
        "cargo": {
          "features": "all"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

TypeScript/JavaScript

Install tools:

npm install -g typescript typescript-language-server prettier eslint

Configuration:

{
  "languages": {
    "TypeScript": {
      "language_servers": ["typescript-language-server", "eslint"],
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "formatter": {
        "external": {
          "command": "prettier",
          "arguments": ["--stdin-filepath", "{buffer_path}"]
        }
      }
    },
    "JavaScript": {
      "language_servers": ["typescript-language-server", "eslint"],
      "format_on_save": "on"
    },
    "TSX": {
      "language_servers": ["typescript-language-server", "eslint"],
      "format_on_save": "on"
    },
    "JSX": {
      "language_servers": ["typescript-language-server", "eslint"],
      "format_on_save": "on"
    }
  }
}

Go

Install gopls:

go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls@latest

Configuration:

{
  "languages": {
    "Go": {
      "language_servers": ["gopls"],
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "hard_tabs": true,
      "tab_size": 4
    }
  },
  "lsp": {
    "gopls": {
      "initialization_options": {
        "hints": {
          "assignVariableTypes": true,
          "compositeLiteralFields": true,
          "functionTypeParameters": true,
          "parameterNames": true
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

C/C++

Install clangd:

# macOS
brew install llvm

# Ubuntu
sudo apt install clangd

Configuration:

{
  "languages": {
    "C": {
      "language_servers": ["clangd"],
      "format_on_save": "on"
    },
    "C++": {
      "language_servers": ["clangd"],
      "format_on_save": "on"
    }
  }
}

JSON

{
  "languages": {
    "JSON": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "tab_size": 2
    },
    "JSONC": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "tab_size": 2
    }
  }
}

YAML

{
  "languages": {
    "YAML": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "tab_size": 2
    }
  }
}

Markdown

{
  "languages": {
    "Markdown": {
      "soft_wrap": "preferred_line_length",
      "preferred_line_length": 80,
      "format_on_save": "off",
      "show_whitespaces": "none"
    }
  }
}

HTML/CSS

{
  "languages": {
    "HTML": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "formatter": {
        "external": {
          "command": "prettier",
          "arguments": ["--stdin-filepath", "{buffer_path}"]
        }
      }
    },
    "CSS": {
      "format_on_save": "on"
    },
    "SCSS": {
      "format_on_save": "on"
    }
  }
}

Docker

{
  "languages": {
    "Dockerfile": {
      "format_on_save": "off"
    }
  }
}

Shell Scripts

Install shellcheck and shfmt:

brew install shellcheck shfmt

Configuration:

{
  "languages": {
    "Shell Script": {
      "format_on_save": "on",
      "formatter": {
        "external": {
          "command": "shfmt",
          "arguments": ["-i", "2", "-"]
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Lua

Install lua-language-server:

brew install lua-language-server

Configuration:

{
  "languages": {
    "Lua": {
      "language_servers": ["lua-language-server"],
      "format_on_save": "on"
    }
  },
  "lsp": {
    "lua-language-server": {
      "initialization_options": {
        "settings": {
          "Lua": {
            "diagnostics": {
              "globals": ["vim"]
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Themes

Installing Themes

Themes are available as extensions:

1. Cmd+Shift+P > "extensions"
2. Search for theme name
3. Install and set in settings

Popular Themes

{
  "theme": "One Dark Pro"
}

Available themes:

• One Dark Pro
• Tokyo Night
• Catppuccin Mocha / Catppuccin Latte
• Gruvbox Dark / Gruvbox Light
• Dracula
• GitHub Dark / GitHub Light
• Solarized Dark / Solarized Light
• Nord
• Rose Pine

Theme Switching

Quick switch with Command Palette:

1. Cmd+Shift+P
2. Search "theme"
3. Select theme

Icons

{
  "icon_theme": "VSCode Icons for Zed (Dark)"
}

Multiple Language Servers

Run multiple servers for a language:

{
  "languages": {
    "Python": {
      "language_servers": ["pyright", "ruff"]
    }
  }
}

Disable Language Server

{
  "languages": {
    "Markdown": {
      "enable_language_server": false
    }
  }
}

Custom Formatters

External Formatter

{
  "languages": {
    "Python": {
      "formatter": {
        "external": {
          "command": "black",
          "arguments": ["-"]
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Code Actions as Formatter

{
  "languages": {
    "Python": {
      "formatter": [
        { "code_action": "source.organizeImports.ruff" },
        { "language_server": { "name": "ruff" } }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Extension Development

Zed extensions use WebAssembly. See the Zed Extension API for development details.

Troubleshooting

Language Server Not Starting

1. Verify tool is installed: which pyright
2. Check Zed logs: Command Palette > "zed: open log"
3. Restart language server: Command Palette > "lsp: restart server"

Formatting Not Working

1. Verify formatter is installed
2. Check format_on_save is "on"
3. Check formatter configuration
4. Try manual format: Shift+Alt+F