zed includes Crashpad / Breakpad, so it can send usage or crash data to those services.E10E12
It's open source under the Apache License 2.0 (from its LICENSE file) licence, so anyone can read and check its code.E2
Crash reporting: Sends crash and error reports to the developers.E10E12
AI: Uses AI models, either through an online provider or on your computer.E5E6E7
Internet access: It contains code to connect to the internet.E193E198E15
Starts other programs: It can start other programs on your computer, for example to open files or links.E194E199
What it is
The project describes itself as: “Code at the speed of thought – Zed is a high-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter.”E1
It's written mainly in Rust (files: rs, json, toml, py).E1
The latest release (v1.23.3) has downloads for Linux, Windows and macOS.E4
91703 people starred it on GitHub; the code was last updated 2026-10-14.E3
Sends crash and error reports to the developers. Signals: Crashpad / Breakpad.E10E12
Crashpad / BreakpadCrashpad / Breakpad
AI
Uses AI models, either through an online provider or on your computer. Signals: Anthropic SDK, local AI models (ONNX/Candle/llama.cpp) and Ollama.E5E6E7
Anthropic SDKlocal AI models (ONNX/Candle/llama.cpp)Ollama
Internet access
It contains code to connect to the internet. Signals: reqwest (HTTP client), requests (HTTP client), connect, getaddrinfo and 2 more.E193E198E15E21
It can start other programs on your computer, for example to open files or links. Signals: execvp, fork and posix_spawnp.E194E199
execvpforkposix_spawnp
Loads extra code
It can load code libraries while running (often graphics drivers, plugins or scripts). Signals: loads plugins / libraries at runtime and dlopen.E195E18
loads plugins / libraries at runtimedlopen
Audio devices
Uses speakers or microphones. Signals: microphone/audio devices.E8E9
microphone/audio devicesmicrophone/audio devices
Local web server
Runs a small web server on your computer. Signals: local web server.E17E19
local web serverlocal web server
Local database
Keeps a database file on your computer. Signals: local database.E11E16
local databaselocal database
File watching
Notices when files on your computer change. Signals: watches files for changes.E20
Opens web links in your normal browser. Signals: opens links in your browser.E14
opens links in your browser
Declared permissions
Its app manifest declares system permissions it asks for. Signals: com.apple.security.automation.apple-events, com.apple.security.cs.allow-jit, com.apple.security.cs.allow-unsigned-executable-memory, com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation and 4 more.E201E202E203E204E205E206
The latest release (v1.23.3) has downloads for Linux, Windows, macOS.
Evidence
Every sentence above points to one of these. Code references show the file, line:column and the short identifier that matched, never the site's code itself.
E1
Repository: zed-industries/zed
Code at the speed of thought – Zed is a high-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter.
We read the app's code and its official download without running it. Code that exists may never run for you, and behaviour decided by servers is invisible.
Web addresses and libraries show what the app can talk to or do, not that it does so every time you use it.
Only open-source apps with a public GitHub repository are analysed. The release we inspected may differ from builds in app stores.
This text was written from fixed templates because no AI writer was available. It uses exactly the same evidence.
Facts, not judgements: this page describes what the code and traffic show, not anyone's intent. Not financial advice. Case id udIJtLgT.