https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage
Portable AppImage build of Zed editor using my personal editor config. This is the setup I use myself, shared publicly for anyone who wants to use it. Runs anywhere on Linux with zero to very less configuration required.
https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage
appimage appimages linux portable rust zed zed-editor
Last synced: 3 months ago
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Portable AppImage build of Zed editor using my personal editor config. This is the setup I use myself, shared publicly for anyone who wants to use it. Runs anywhere on Linux with zero to very less configuration required.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage
- Owner: debuggerdragon311
- License: agpl-3.0
- Created: 2026-02-15T11:07:47.000Z (4 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-02-20T03:53:48.000Z (4 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-02-20T07:20:23.384Z (4 months ago)
- Topics: appimage, appimages, linux, portable, rust, zed, zed-editor
- Language: Shell
- Homepage:
- Size: 4.33 MB
- Stars: 4
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# ZedX AppImage
[](https://zed.dev)
[](https://zed.dev)
[](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0)
[](https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage/releases/v0.223.4)
[](https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage)
> Portable, self-contained AppImage builds of the Zed high-performance code editor. Zero installation, maximum performance.
## Why ZedX AppImage?
The [Zed editor](https://zed.dev) is blazing fast, but lacks official AppImage releases. ZedX bridges that gap with:
- ✅ **Zero Installation** – Download once, run anywhere on any Linux distribution
- 🚀 **GPU Accelerated** – Full Vulkan support for 120 FPS rendering
- 📦 **Truly Portable** – All dependencies bundled (OpenSSL, XCB, XKB libraries included)
- 🔒 **Stable & Tested** – Built from official Zed source with quality assurance
- 💾 **Lightweight** – <150 MB compressed package with everything you need
## Downloads
**Choose the right build for your system:**
### 🏔️ Arch Build (Bleeding Edge)
- **File:** `zedX-v0.223.3-arch-x86_64.AppImage`
- **For:** Arch Linux, Fedora 40+, openSUSE Tumbleweed, and other rolling-release distros
- **Requirements:** glibc 2.38+ (check with `ldd --version`)
- **Optimized for:** Latest features and performance
### 🐧 Compatible Build (Stable Distros)
- **File:** `zedX-v0.223.3-compat-x86_64.AppImage`
- **For:** Debian 11-12, Ubuntu 20.04-24.04, RHEL 8-9, and enterprise Linux
- **Requirements:** glibc 2.31+ (most stable distros)
- **Recommended for:** Maximum compatibility
**Not sure which to download?** → Use the **compat** build (works everywhere)
[📥 Download Latest Release](https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage/releases/latest)
## Quick Start
```bash
# Download the compatible build (recommended)
wget https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage/releases/latest/download/zedX-v0.223.4-compat+mix-x86_64.AppImage
# Make it executable
chmod +x zedX-v0.223.4-compat+mix-x86_64.AppImage
# Run immediately
./zedX-v0.223.4-compat+mix-x86_64.AppImage
```
**That's it!** No package managers, no dependency hunting, no root required.
## Portable Mode
Create `.home` and `.config` folders next to the AppImage to keep all settings portable:
```bash
# Create portable directories
mkdir zedX-v0.223.4-compat+mix-x86_64.AppImage.{home,config}
# Run - settings will be stored in these folders
./zedX-v0.223.4-compat+mix-x86_64.AppImage
```
All configuration and data will be stored in these folders instead of `~/.config/`, making it truly portable across machines or USB drives.
## Building from Source
Want to build your own? Here's how:
### Prerequisites
```bash
# Install Rust toolchain
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
# Clone Zed source
git clone https://github.com/zed-industries/zed.git
cd zed
# Build release binary
cargo build --release
# The binary will be at: target/release/zed
```
### Create the AppImage
```bash
# Clone this repository
git clone https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage.git
cd zedx-appimage
# Copy the Zed binary you just built
cp /path/to/zed/target/release/zed zed.fk.app/usr/bin/zed
chmod +x zed.fk.app/usr/bin/zed
# Download appimagetool
wget https://github.com/AppImage/AppImageKit/releases/download/continuous/appimagetool-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x appimagetool-x86_64.AppImage
# Build the AppImage
./appimagetool-x86_64.AppImage zed.fk.app zedX-v0.223.4-compat+mix-x86_64.AppImage
```
### Building for Maximum Compatibility
For the `-compat` build, we recommend building on Debian 12 or Ubuntu 22.04:
```bash
# On Debian 12 / Ubuntu 22.04
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y \
build-essential clang cmake curl git pkg-config \
libx11-dev libx11-xcb-dev libxcb1-dev libxcb-render0-dev \
libxcb-shape0-dev libxcb-xfixes0-dev libxkbcommon-dev \
libxkbcommon-x11-dev libssl-dev libfontconfig1-dev \
libfreetype6-dev libasound2-dev libvulkan-dev libwayland-dev \
libxcursor-dev libxi-dev libxrandr-dev mesa-vulkan-drivers libzstd-dev
# Install Rust
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
source "$HOME/.cargo/env"
# Build
export CC=clang
export CXX=clang++
cd zed
cargo build --release -j 2
```
## Troubleshooting
### Error: GLIBC version not found
You downloaded the `-arch` build but need the `-compat` build instead.
**Solution:** Download the `-compat` variant from releases.
**How to check your glibc version:**
```bash
ldd --version
```
If you see 2.36 or lower → use `-compat`
If you see 2.38 or higher → either build works
### Permission Denied on External Drives
If you get `execv error: Permission denied`:
```bash
# Move to your home directory
mv zedX-*.AppImage ~/
cd ~
./zedX-*.AppImage
```
This happens when external drives are mounted with the `noexec` flag for security.
### Missing Vulkan Drivers
Ensure your GPU drivers are up to date:
```bash
# Check Vulkan support
vulkaninfo | grep "deviceName"
# Install Vulkan (if missing)
# Arch: sudo pacman -S vulkan-icd-loader
# Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers
# Fedora: sudo dnf install vulkan-loader
```
## Project Structure
```
zedx-appimage/
├── LICENSE # AGPL-3.0 license
├── README.md # This file
└── zed.fk.app/ # AppImage source directory
├── AppRun # Launch script with portable mode support
├── zed.desktop # Desktop integration
├── zed.png # Application icon (512x512)
└── usr/
├── bin/ # Binary location
├── lib/ # Bundled libraries (OpenSSL, XCB, etc.)
└── share/ # Desktop files and icons
```
## What's Included
- **Zed Binary:** Built from official source (v0.225.0+dev)
- **Bundled Libraries:**
- OpenSSL 3.x (`libssl.so.3`, `libcrypto.so.3`)
- ALSA audio (`libasound.so.2`)
- X11/Wayland support (`libxcb-xkb`, `libxkbcommon`)
- C++ runtime (`libstdc++.so.6`)
## Roadmap
- [x] Multiple build variants for different distros
- [x] Portable configuration support
- [ ] Automated builds on new Zed releases
- [ ] Multiple architecture support (ARM64)
- [ ] Integration with AppImageHub
- [ ] Delta updates for faster releases
## Release Cadence
ZedX AppImage follows Zed's official releases with a slight delay for building and testing:
| Release Type | Description | Status |
|--------------|-------------|--------|
| 🔥 **Development** | Latest `main` branch features | Usually available within 24h |
| 🧪 **Pre-release** | Beta versions for testing | Available on request |
| ✅ **Stable** | Production-ready releases | Priority, typically within 48h |
**Current Status:**
- Latest Dev: ✅ v0.225.0+dev (multiple variants)
- Stable: ✅ v0.223.3
## FAQ
### Which AppImage should I download?
**Short answer:** Download the `-compat` build unless you're on Arch/Fedora.
**Long answer:**
- `-arch`: Built on latest systems, optimized for bleeding-edge distros (glibc 2.38+)
- `-compat`: Built on Debian 12, works on stable and older systems (glibc 2.31+)
### Can I run multiple instances?
Yes! Use the `--new-window` flag:
```bash
./zedX-*.AppImage --new-window
```
### How do I update?
Simply download the new AppImage and replace the old one. Your settings in `~/.config/zed/` are preserved (or in portable `.config/` folder if using portable mode).
## Contributing
Contributions welcome! Feel free to:
- Report bugs via [Issues](https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage/issues)
- Submit improvements via [Pull Requests](https://github.com/debuggerdragon311/zedx-appimage/pulls)
- Request features or suggest optimizations
## Credits
- **[Zed Industries](https://zed.dev)** – Original Zed editor developers
- **[AppImageKit](https://github.com/AppImage/AppImageKit)** – Portable packaging framework
- **Community** – Testing and feedback
## License
This repository is licensed under **AGPL-3.0** to match Zed's licensing requirements.
- **Zed Editor:** [AGPL-3.0](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed/blob/main/LICENSE-AGPL) or [GPL-3.0](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed/blob/main/LICENSE-GPL)
- **Build Scripts & Packaging:** AGPL-3.0 (this repository)
## Important Disclaimer
⚠️ **This is an UNOFFICIAL community-maintained build.**
- **Not affiliated with:** Zed Industries, Inc.
- **Not endorsed by:** The official Zed development team
- **Official releases:** Available at [zed.dev](https://zed.dev)
- **Support:** For Zed-specific issues, please visit the [official repository](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed)
**Quality Commitment:** While this is an unofficial build, I am committed to:
- ✓ Building from official, unmodified Zed source code
- ✓ Regular updates following upstream releases
- ✓ Transparency in build process and dependencies
- ✓ Prompt bug fixes and community support
For official support, enterprise features, or commercial use, please visit [zed.dev](https://zed.dev).
---
Made with ⚡ for the Linux community