Melty: A Comprehensive Developer’s Companion
Melty is a versatile, standalone tool developed by the duo of Charlie Holtz and Jackson de Campos. It supports a wide array of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a flexible choice for developers working across different platforms. Melty is compatible with leading large language models such as GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, and o3, offering a robust AI-powered environment. With a generous context window of 200k tokens, it facilitates extensive code and text analysis. Developers can leverage local inference for enhanced performance and rely on its multi-file agentic editing capabilities for efficient editing tasks. Melty offers full terminal access and predictive edits, ensuring a seamless development experience. While it adheres to a standard privacy policy, its SOC2 Type II certification for enterprise users ensures high security. Melty is available in a free tier, with additional features in the Pro version.
Pros
- ✓ Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- ✓ Compatible with advanced LLMs like GPT-5 and Claude 4.5.
- ✓ Local inference for improved performance.
- ✓ Multi-file agentic editing.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
Cons
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
- ✕ Privacy mode is standard.
Zed: The Developer’s Efficient Ally
Zed stands out as a standalone tool designed to enhance the development process. It is compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows, ensuring a broad user base can benefit from its features. The tool supports various LLMs, including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, and Ollama, with Zeta as an open-source option. Like Melty, Zed offers a substantial context window of 200k tokens and supports local inference, making it a reliable choice for developers seeking efficiency and speed. Its agentic editing capabilities extend to multi-file projects, and users enjoy full terminal access and predictive edits. Zed maintains a standard privacy policy, but its SOC2 Type II certification for enterprise users adds an extra layer of trust. The tool provides a free tier with an option to upgrade to a Pro version for enhanced functionality.
Pros
- ✓ Compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows.
- ✓ Supports a variety of LLMs including open-source options.
- ✓ Local inference for faster operations.
- ✓ Multi-file agentic editing available.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
Cons
- ✕ Migration requires setup.
- ✕ Standard privacy policy.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Melty | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| Developer | Charlie Holtz, Jackson de Campos | Zed |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, o3 | Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, Ollama (local), Zeta (open-source) |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free/Pro | Free/Pro |
| Config File | .meltyrc | .zedrc |
| Migration | Requires setup | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Melty and Zed offer powerful features for developers, with support for multiple operating systems and advanced language models. While both tools provide local inference and strong editing capabilities, the choice between them may come down to specific LLM compatibility and personal preference for user interface and workflow. Each tool offers a free tier, allowing users to explore their features before opting for a Pro version.