Lapce

Open-source, native code editor written in Rust with built-in LSP and Vim mode.

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 4
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Lapce

Lapce is a free, open-source code editor written in Rust, using its own GPU-accelerated GUI toolkit, Floem, instead of Electron. The goal is an editor that opens instantly and never lags on keystrokes while still offering modern features: Tree-sitter syntax highlighting, built-in language server support for completion and diagnostics, a built-in terminal, and remote development that lets you work on another machine as if it were local. Vim users get a modal editing mode without a plugin, and plugins are written in any language that compiles to WASI. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is licensed under Apache 2.0. Lapce is still at an early version number and its plugin library is small, so it suits developers who value speed and want to follow a promising open-source project more than those who need a complete, stable toolset today. Its developers also run Lapdev, a separate paid service for Kubernetes development environments.

Best for: Developers who want a fast, native open-source editor and don't mind an early-stage project.

What works

Native Rust GUI, fast to start and type in
Built-in LSP, terminal and remote development
Vim-style modal editing without plugins

Why people leave

Pre-1.0 software with rough edges
Small plugin ecosystem
Slower development pace than leading editors

Top Lapce alternatives

See all 4

1
Zed
Also a fast Rust editor, more mature and with AI and collaboration built in.
80.3
2
Sublime Text
A fast native editor with a long track record and a large package library.
74.4
3
Helix
A Rust editor for the terminal with LSP and modal editing out of the box.
62.6
4
Visual Studio Code
Slower but far more complete, with a huge extension library.
61.8

Why people left Lapce

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Lapce: common questions

Is Lapce free?

Yes. Lapce is free, open-source software.

Is Lapce open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at lapce/lapce.

What platforms does Lapce run on?

Lapce is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to Lapce?

The highest-ranked Lapce alternatives right now are Zed, Sublime Text and Helix. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 Lapce alternatives

Lapce facts

4 of 4 verified

License: Apache-2.0; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: Apache-2.0 (Apache License 2.0).”
Written in: Rust; Checked Oct 25, 2026lap.dev(opens source in a new tab); “Download Other platforms and formats Read the docs Modern open source code editor in Rust”
Plugins: Any language compiling to WASI; Checked Oct 25, 2026lap.dev(opens source in a new tab); “WASI plugin system You can write a plugin for Lapce with any programing language that compiles to WASI.”
Vim mode: Built in; Checked Oct 25, 2026lap.dev(opens source in a new tab); “Built-in support for a Vim like editing experience, without a plugin.”