Google has officially introduced Gemini CLI integration into Zed, the open-source code editor known for its Rust-based architecture and performance-focused community. The update, announced by Google’s product management team, enables developers to access Gemini’s models directly within Zed, ensuring the AI’s responsiveness matches the editor’s speed. This marks a shift in developer workflows by connecting the strengths of the terminal and IDE, aiming to reduce interruptions from context-switching and streamline complex coding tasks.
The new workflow allows developers to:
- Generate and refactor code instantly.
- Receive immediate explanations for code or error messages.
- Chat with Gemini from Zed’s integrated terminal.
Video: Google
Notably, Gemini can now follow complex instructions, such as adding endpoints or writing unit tests, executing them across multiple files with real-time progress visible in the editor. Once the agent’s work is complete, Zed provides a review interface similar to a pull request, enabling granular control over every code change.
Beyond just working with local files, developers can supply external documentation or API specs for Gemini to use as context, helping to address more advanced challenges. The partnership supports extensibility through open standards, with custom extensions and configurations actively contributed by the community. Zed was chosen for this integration due to its technical foundation and engaged user base, making it an ideal environment to showcase Gemini’s agent capabilities. The integration is now available to all users, reinforcing Google’s approach of supporting developer choice rather than restricting tools to a single ecosystem.
