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January 2026

Discover all the Zed editor tips and techniques from January 2026

43
tips this month
Install AI Agents from ACP Registry
beginner

Install AI Agents from ACP Registry

Discover and install specialized agents directly from Zed's Agent Registry

#agent #ai #acp
beginner

Edit Queued Agent Messages Before Sending

Modify your queued prompts on the fly with Cmd+E

#agent #ai #workflow
Set Granular Permissions for Agent Tools
intermediate

Set Granular Permissions for Agent Tools

Control what the AI agent can do with per-tool permission rules

#agent #ai #security
Add Code Errors to Agent Context with @diagnostics
beginner

Add Code Errors to Agent Context with @diagnostics

Feed LSP diagnostics directly into your agent conversations

#agent #ai #diagnostics
beginner

Inherit EditorConfig from Parent Directories

Apply editor settings from outside your project directory

#editorconfig #configuration #settings
beginner

Launch Tasks Instantly with Alt-Shift-R

One keystroke to open and execute your custom tasks

#tasks #shortcuts #workflow
Build Custom Themes with Theme Builder
beginner

Build Custom Themes with Theme Builder

Create and customize your perfect Zed theme visually

#themes #customization #ui
intermediate

Build a Complete Vim Power User Workflow in Zed

Master keyboard-driven editing with leader keys, motions, and efficient navigation

#vim #workflow #keybindings
intermediate

Navigate Code with Vim Tag Stack

Jump through definition history with dedicated tag navigation commands

#vim #navigation #go-to-definition
beginner

Instant Auto-Save Like JetBrains IDEs

Save files immediately on every change without any delay

#autosave #config #workflow
intermediate

Auto-Generate Go Struct Tags

Instantly add JSON tags to Go structs with a single task

#go #golang #tasks
beginner

Interrupt Agent Threads with ESC

Press ESC anywhere in the agent panel to stop a running thread

#agent #ai #keyboard-shortcuts
beginner

Monitor Agent Performance with Turn Statistics

Track tokens, time, and turns in real-time for better AI interaction insights

#agent #ai #performance
Track Code Changes Made by Agent
beginner

Track Code Changes Made by Agent

See exactly how many lines the agent added or removed in each file

#agent #ai #diff
beginner

Unified Git Picker for Branches, Worktrees, and Stashes

Access all your Git entities from one convenient picker interface

#git #branches #worktree
intermediate

Open Local Terminals in Remote Projects

Run local build tools and scripts while working on remote projects

#terminal #remote #dev-containers
Navigate Markdown with Structured Outlines
beginner

Navigate Markdown with Structured Outlines

Hierarchical heading outline for better Markdown file navigation

#markdown #outline #navigation
beginner

Display Pinned Tabs in a Separate Row

Give your working tabs full horizontal space by separating pinned tabs

#tabs #workspace #ui
Adjust Task Commands on the Fly
intermediate

Adjust Task Commands on the Fly

Modify task commands before running them for quick iterations

#tasks #workflow #terminal
beginner

AI Commit Messages with Custom Rules

Generate commit messages that follow your team's conventions

#ai #git #workflow
beginner

Auto-save on Focus Change

Automatically save files when switching between editor and terminal

#settings #workflow #autosave
Compare Marked Files
beginner

Compare Marked Files

Compare two files side-by-side using the project panel context menu

#files #diff #comparison
intermediate

Develop in Containers with Dev Containers

Consistent development environments using DevContainer configuration

#docker #development #devcontainers
Add Run Buttons for Bun Tests
intermediate

Add Run Buttons for Bun Tests

Configure test runner tasks to get inline run buttons in test files

#testing #bun #tasks
Copy and Trim Indentation
beginner

Copy and Trim Indentation

Copy selected text with leading whitespace automatically trimmed

#editing #clipboard
beginner

Force Touch for Go-to-Definition on macOS

Use trackpad pressure to jump to symbol definitions

#macos #navigation #trackpad
Add Colorful File Icons with Catppuccin
beginner

Add Colorful File Icons with Catppuccin

Install the Catppuccin Icons extension for vibrant, colorful file icons in your project panel

#extensions #ui #customization
Tree View in Git Panel
beginner

Tree View in Git Panel

Navigate changed files in a hierarchical tree structure

#git #navigation #workflow
Run Lazygit as a Task
intermediate

Run Lazygit as a Task

Launch lazygit in Zed's terminal for a powerful Git workflow

#git #terminal #tasks
beginner

Map Unknown File Types to Languages

Get syntax highlighting for custom file extensions by mapping them to known languages

#syntax-highlighting #file-types #customization
beginner

Open Files in a New Pane

Quickly split your workspace by opening files in a new pane with a modifier key

#panes #workspace #files
intermediate

Select All Regex Matches

Create multiple cursors on all regex pattern matches instantly

#regex #multicursor #search
beginner

Split Selection Into Lines

Instantly create a cursor on every line in your selection

#multicursor #editing
SQL Syntax Highlighting in Python
beginner

SQL Syntax Highlighting in Python

Better readability for SQL queries embedded in Python code

#python #sql #syntax-highlighting
Use Television as a Fuzzy Finder
advanced

Use Television as a Fuzzy Finder

Emulate Vim's Telescope with the fast Television fuzzy finder tool

#vim #fuzzy-finder #cli
Launch Terminal with tmux Sessions
advanced

Launch Terminal with tmux Sessions

Automatically start project-specific tmux sessions when opening terminals

#terminal #tmux #workflow
Search by Symbol and Context in Outline
intermediate

Search by Symbol and Context in Outline

Use spaces in the outline modal to search both symbol names and their containing scopes

#outline #search #symbols
beginner

Pin Your Favorite AI Models

Quick access to your most-used language models with favorites

#ai #agent #workflow
beginner

Create Pull Requests from Zed

Open PRs directly from the editor without leaving your workflow

#git #github #workflow
beginner

Control Language Servers from the UI

Restart or stop individual LSPs without terminal commands

#lsp #development #troubleshooting
beginner

Auto-Continue Markdown Lists

Effortlessly create nested lists with automatic continuation

#markdown #writing #editing
Crisp Text with Subpixel Rendering
intermediate

Crisp Text with Subpixel Rendering

Improve text clarity on standard DPI displays with ClearType-style rendering

#display #settings #performance
beginner

Discover Keybindings with Which-Key Modal

Never forget your custom keybindings with this Vim-inspired helper

#vim #keybindings #productivity