Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Zed VS AWS Cloud9

Compare Zed VS AWS Cloud9 and see what are their differences

Zed logo Zed

Zed is a high-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter.

AWS Cloud9 logo AWS Cloud9

AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser.
  • Zed Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-06-20
  • AWS Cloud9 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-23

Zed features and specs

  • Collaborative Editing
    Zed offers real-time collaborative editing features, allowing multiple developers to work on the same codebase simultaneously, enhancing team productivity and communication.
  • Minimalist Interface
    The interface is designed to be distraction-free and minimalist, which helps developers focus on coding without unnecessary clutter and distractions.
  • Speed and Performance
    Zed is built with performance in mind, offering fast loading times and a smooth user experience, making coding more efficient.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Zed is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide array of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Innovative Features
    Zed includes several innovative features such as advanced search and navigation capabilities, which can significantly enhance the coding experience.

Possible disadvantages of Zed

  • Limited Extensions
    Compared to more established editors like VS Code, Zed currently has a more limited library of extensions and plugins, which might restrict customization and functionality.
  • Learning Curve
    New users coming from other development environments may face a learning curve due to Zed's unique interface and features.
  • Early Development
    As a relatively new tool, Zed may still be in its early stages of development, with potential bugs and missing features that could affect stability and user experience.
  • Community Size
    The community and user base for Zed is still growing, which can mean less community support, tutorials, and shared resources compared to more mature editors.

AWS Cloud9 features and specs

  • Integrated Development Environment
    AWS Cloud9 provides a set of tools for coding, running, and debugging applications, making the development process more efficient.
  • Collaboration
    Real-time collaboration features enable multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously, making teamwork easier.
  • Preconfigured Workspaces
    Preconfigured environments speed up the setup process, allowing developers to start coding immediately without worrying about configuration.
  • Serverless Development
    Supports serverless apps and provides seamless integration with AWS Lambda, helping developers build modern applications.
  • Remote Development
    Enables development from any location without the need for a powerful local machine, as the IDE runs in the cloud.
  • Cost Management
    Cloud9 uses pay-as-you-go pricing, potentially reducing costs compared to maintaining and upgrading local development environments.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Cloud9

  • Internet Dependency
    Requires an internet connection to access, which can be a limitation in areas with unstable or no internet access.
  • Resource Limitations
    Dependent on the allocated AWS resources, which may require scaling and can incur additional costs for high usage.
  • Latency Issues
    Potential latency issues could affect productivity, particularly when used over slower internet connections.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with cloud-based IDEs or the AWS ecosystem may require time to learn how to effectively use Cloud9.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Being tightly integrated with AWS services, it may contribute to vendor lock-in, making it harder to switch to other cloud providers.
  • Cost Management Complexity
    The pay-as-you-go model can lead to unexpected costs if resource usage is not closely monitored and managed.

Analysis of Zed

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Zed is considered a good code editor by many developers.

Why this product is good

  • Zed offers a modern and efficient code editing experience with features such as real-time collaboration, a clean interface, and high performance. It is built to be fast and responsive, making it suitable for developers who value speed in their editing tools.

Recommended for

    Developers looking for a collaborative and fast code editor with a modern interface would benefit from using Zed. It is especially suited for teams that require real-time collaboration capabilities.

Analysis of AWS Cloud9

Overall verdict

  • AWS Cloud9 is generally considered a good option for developers, especially those working within the AWS ecosystem. Its cloud-based nature allows for easy access from anywhere, and the environment simplifies the process of scaling applications. However, for developers not working with AWS services, or those who prefer offline development, it might not be the ideal choice.

Why this product is good

  • AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that is particularly beneficial for developers who need a robust and flexible environment. It offers seamless integration with AWS services, making it easier to develop, test, and deploy applications in the cloud. Cloud9 supports a wide array of programming languages, provides tools for real-time collaboration, and includes features like code hinting, debugging, and the ability to work on serverless applications.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently use AWS services
  • Teams that require real-time collaboration on code
  • Developers who need a browser-based IDE
  • Those looking to leverage the power of serverless computing within AWS

Zed videos

Zed “kills” VSCode

More videos:

  • Review - Zed - The 'Visual Studio Code Killer' - Now on Linux!

AWS Cloud9 videos

Introducing AWS Cloud9 - AWS Online Tech Talks

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to AWS Cloud9

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Zed and AWS Cloud9)
Text Editors
27 27%
73% 73
IDE
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
47 47%
53% 53
Software Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Zed and AWS Cloud9

Zed Reviews

We have no reviews of Zed yet.
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AWS Cloud9 Reviews

8 Best Replit Alternatives & Competitors in 2022 (Free & Paid) - Software Discover
AWS cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (Ide) That lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser. AWS cloud9 amazon web services.
Top 10 Visual Studio Alternatives
AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based coordinated advancement system. It is a server that allows the users to type, initiate or operate and repair the code by only using the browser. It contains an editor program for code, error-removing system, and endpoint. Cloud9 has all the important tools for general programming languages, that includes,
12 Best Online IDE and Code Editors to Develop Web Applications
There are no additional charges for using Cloud9. You can connect Cloud9 to an existing/new AWS compute instance, and you pay only for that instance. It’s also possible to connect to a third-party server over SSH — for exactly no fee! 🙂
Source: geekflare.com
Ruby IDE: The 9 Best IDEs for Ruby on Rails Development
Here we are talking about a different animal all together – Cloud9. Cloud9 offers development environment for almost all programming languages including Ruby. Cloud9 is fast becoming popular among medium to large enterprises and companies like Heroku, Soundcloud, Mailchimp and Mozilla etc. are already using Cloud9.
Source: noeticforce.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Zed might be a bit more popular than AWS Cloud9. We know about 55 links to it since March 2021 and only 39 links to AWS Cloud9. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Zed mentions (55)

  • Void: Open-Source Cursor Alternative
    > and there is no open source full IDE alternative (besides Void). And Zed: https://zed.dev Yesterday on the front page of HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43912844. - Source: Hacker News / 22 days ago
  • What's Happening in Developer Tools? (OpenAI Just Bought Windsurf for $3B)
    There are other AI agents and text editors out there, including Replit, Zed, and many others, but if you say AI text editor at the moment, most people will think of Cursor/Windsurf/VSCode. - Source: dev.to / 22 days ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (May 2025)
    Zed is a company for developers, by developers. All 3 of our founders have spent years in the trenches writing software and still do it almost every single day. We know the only way to build the world's best code editor is by equipping every single member of the team to do the best work of their career. 1. AI Rust Engineer - https://zed.dev/jobs/ai-engineer. - Source: Hacker News / 29 days ago
  • OpenVSX, which VSCode forks rely on for extensions, down for 24 hours
    Have you compared helix to zed (https://zed.dev/)? I want something VSCode-ish, could never really get used to vim myself. But definitely don't want something built on Electron, it's too bloated. Zed and Helix are both built in Rust without Electron, which is already promising. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • I Use Kate Editor
    TIL about Kate editor, but after 30 years of just using vi in a terminal (Unix, Mac, even Windows in cmd.exe) I switched to Zed editor (https://zed.dev). I had tried other editors in the past, but quickly fell back to vi/vim after a few hours or days, for various reasons. Been using Zed for a couple of months now and no plans to go back. It also uses LSPs, but whenever I connect to some (Linux) dev host from Zed... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
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AWS Cloud9 mentions (39)

  • Serverless Data Processing on AWS : AWS Project
    AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser. It includes a code editor, debugger, and terminal. Cloud9 comes pre-packaged with essential tools for popular programming languages and the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) pre-installed so you don’t need to install files or configure your laptop for this workshop. Your Cloud9... - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated
    AWS has Cloud9[1] though it's worth pointing out that it's not an exact a 1:1 and may require some elbow grease to use in the same manner[2]. 1. https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/ 2. https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/architecture/field-notes-use-aws-cloud9-to-power-your-visual-studio-code-ide/ (2021). - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • How does working with files through AWS work, do you save them onto the AWS console?
    If you just want to run an IDE for Python in the cloud, take a look at AWS Cloud9 (that would cost something however). You could get your code into AWS and sync your local changes using a source code repository, e.g. On GitHub or GitLab. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Best web-based IDEs?
    Not sure why you won't use replit but AWS has Cloud9 https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Taking my AWS CCP Exam today, any additional notes help, feel pretty good about the information I’ve reviewed, but please feel free to drop advice or notes.
    As I mentioned in a previous post, cloud9 was not in the course I was studying from, and not in the practice exams I solved. It came in my exam. Https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Zed and AWS Cloud9, you can also consider the following products

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Codeanywhere - Codeanywhere is a complete toolset for web development. Enabling you to edit, collaborate and run your projects from any device.

VSCodium - Binary releases of Visual Sudio Code without Microsoft branding, telemetry and licensing

Koding - A new way for developers to work.

GitHub Copilot - Your AI pair programmer. With GitHub Copilot, get suggestions for whole lines or entire functions right inside your editor.

Netbeans - NetBeans IDE 7.0. Develop desktop, mobile and web applications with Java, PHP, C/C++ and more. Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris. NetBeans IDE is open-source and free.