Void: The Open-Source Powerhouse
Void is a robust and versatile standalone tool designed to cater to developers across platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux. As an open-source solution, Void offers users the flexibility of local inference, ensuring data privacy with its Zero Data Retention (ZDR) policy. The tool supports an impressive range of large language models such as Gemini 2.5, Claude 3.7, and GPT-4 among others. With its unlimited context window through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Void allows seamless agentic editing across multiple files and full terminal access. Its predictive edits and SOC2 Type II certification make it a reliable choice for enterprise environments, all while being free of charge.
Pros
- ✓ Open-source and free.
- ✓ Supports a wide range of LLMs.
- ✓ Unlimited context window with RAG.
- ✓ Zero Data Retention (ZDR) for privacy.
- ✓ Seamless migration.
Cons
- ✕ No specific RAG type mentioned.
- ✕ May require more technical setup.
Zed: A Comprehensive Development Companion
Zed is a powerful standalone tool compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows, developed to streamline the development process with its support for various language models including Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Gemini 2.5. Zed provides local inference capabilities and agentic editing across multiple files, coupled with full terminal access. Despite its standard privacy policy, Zed is SOC2 Type II certified, ensuring a level of trust and security for enterprise users. It offers a 200k token context window and comes with both free and pro versions, although migration may require setup adjustments. Zed’s predictive edits add further efficiency to the development workflow.
Pros
- ✓ Supports multiple LLMs.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
- ✓ Predictive edits enhance workflow.
- ✓ Available in free and pro versions.
Cons
- ✕ Standard privacy policy with less emphasis on data retention.
- ✕ Migration requires setup.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Void | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| Developer | Void (open-source) | Zed |
| Supported Llms | Gemini 2.5, Claude 3.7, GPT-4, Grok 3, o4-mini, Qwen 3, DeepSeek, Llama, Gemma 3 | Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, Ollama (local), Zeta (open-source) |
| Context Window | Unlimited (RAG) | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Zero Data Retention (ZDR) | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free | Free/Pro |
| Config File | settings.json | .zedrc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Void and Zed offer robust solutions for developers seeking powerful standalone tools. While Void stands out with its open-source nature and unlimited context window, Zed provides a balanced option with its support for multiple models and versatile pricing. The choice between them will depend on specific needs such as privacy requirements and the ease of migration.