Vim mode: Add an opt-in Ex-style command bar for :

[rseymour]

What are you proposing?

The command palette should have an optional, minimal command bar style version for use in Vim mode. As discussed in (closed) issue #10774

Why does this matter?

Long time vim users want to use Zed but find the hijack of : to do what cmd-option-p already does to be inelegant. For instance if one is working on replacing something in a long line with :s/foo/bar then colon opens a window right over "foo" in the screen, it can be disconcerting.

What problem does this solve?

The vim key not acting like vi/vim/helix/viper/neovim/vscode-vim-mode is a problem for UX.

What becomes easier or possible?

":" can be set to open a command bar, which allows for quick :sp to split a window, :w to save, :q. Muscle memory works without the visual distraction.

Are there any examples or context?

Vim:

VSCode Vim:

Zed! (~340 line addition, configurable):

Noting the :s/ issue in a video:

Screen.Recording.2026-09-30.at.1.24.25.PM.mov

Possible approach

The screenshot and video above is a version I played with that basically creates a new CommandBar struct and then 1 vim specific config option:

  "vim": {
    "use_ex_style_command_bar": true,
    }

Behavior and compatibility

• Default behavior is unchanged: the setting defaults to false.
• Cmd-Shift-P continues to open Zed's command palette.
• With vim.use_ex_style_command_bar: true, : in an editor opens the bottom command bar.
• The literal : is part of the editable input. Esc cancels, and Backspace over : dismisses the bar.
• Existing Ex-command parsing, fuzzy matching, aliases, and action dispatch remain shared with the current command-palette implementation.
• Non-editor Vim contexts retain the existing command-palette behavior.

Question for maintainers

Would an opt-in Vim-only Ex command bar be welcome if it preserves the existing command resolution backend and leaves the default command palette behavior unchanged?