red is a terminal editor built around familiar Vim-like commands and a modern coding workspace. It brings together modal navigation, project search, language-server functions and version-control tools inside a keyboard-oriented interface. Developers can use the editor independently of its optional AI-assisted functionality.
Its optional Codex integration gives an authenticated coding agent editor context such as selected text, open buffers, unsaved changes and diagnostics. Assistance can be requested for a particular selection or function, with proposed edits presented through the editor’s normal change and undo workflow rather than silently replacing unrelated text.
Red also offers built-in themes, configurable commands and support for extensions. It is suited to programmers who want a terminal-native editing environment that combines conventional source navigation with additional tooling. Agent features require a separate authenticated Codex CLI installation; they are not required for ordinary editing.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Vim-style modes, motions, operators, text objects, registers and macros.
- Language Server Protocol integration for completion and diagnostics.
- Tree-sitter syntax highlighting and syntax-aware editor operations.
- Fuzzy project-file search and a navigable file tree.
- Integrated Git status and project workflows.
- Horizontal and vertical editing windows with keyboard-first selection.
- Optional Codex conversation pane and focused inline review or refactoring.
- Agent edits use revision-checked editor transactions and remain reviewable.
- Customisable themes, keymaps and extensibility through the editor plugin host.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: github.com/codersauce/red
Support:
Developer: codersauce
License: MIT License
red is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Vim-like Text Editors | |
|---|---|
| Neovim | Vim-fork focused on extensibility and usability |
| Helix | Kakoune / Neovim inspired editor. |
| Lapce | Modern editor in Rust which uses native GUI and GPU rendering |
| NvChad | Neovim config aiming to provide a base configuration |
| LunarVim | IDE layer for Neovim |
| Kakoune | Implements Vi’s "keystrokes as a text editing language" model |
| Vis | Combining modal editing with structural regular expressions |
| vile | Text editor that combines aspects of the Emacs and vi editors |
| pyvim | Implementation of Vim in Python |
| gVim | Vim with a built-in GUI |
| amp | Vim-like editor written in Rust |
| Vy | Vim-like in Python made from scratch |
| moe | Command-line editor inspired by Vim |
| wig | Modal, Vim-like text editor |
| sled | Simple text editor with a terminal UI |
| red | Modern modal text editor written in Rust |
| ad | Adaptable text editor |
| hat | Hackable modal text editor |
| HAKO | Lightweight terminal-based modal text environment |
| xvi | Portable multi-file text editor |
| aretext | Minimalist text editor with vim-compatible key bindings |
| Levee | Also known as Captain Video |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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