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The Model Context Protocol has gone from proposal to de facto standard for connecting editors with external tools. This practical guide walks through standing up a local MCP server, wiring it into VS Code or your client of choice, and understanding exactly what you are exposing.
Zed is the editor built by Atom's creators, rebuilt in Rust with a native GPU-rendering UI framework and no Electron. It delivers ~8 ms latency, real-time collaboration with integrated voice and shared cursors, and an open license (GPL v3 + Apache 2.0). A serious VS Code alternative for pairs and small teams.
Cursor is a VS Code fork that puts artificial intelligence at the core of the editor instead of bolting it on as a plugin. It offers inline completion, a chat that understands full project context, and Composer, multi-file editing from a short brief. The Pro plan costs $20 a month and it competes directly with GitHub Copilot.
