Overview

Lapce is a lightning-fast, open source code editor written from scratch in Rust, with its user interface built on the Floem framework and GPU-accelerated rendering via wgpu. It draws on the Rope Science from the Xi editor project to make even very large files open and respond quickly, and it aims to feel snappy — “batteries included” — from first launch to every keystroke.

Under the hood, Lapce uses Tree-sitter for fast, accurate syntax highlighting and has built-in Language Server Protocol (LSP) support, so you get code completion, diagnostics, and code actions without configuring a dozen extensions. It ships with a built-in terminal, modal (Vim-like) editing that can be toggled on or off, and a plugin system based on WebAssembly System Interface (WASI) that lets you write plugins in any language that compiles to WASI.

Because it is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0, Lapce is a strong choice for developers who prefer a native, low-latency editor without telemetry and with full control over the source.

Key Features

• Native GUI + GPU rendering: Floem UI with wgpu gives a responsive interface and rapid rendering, even in large source files
• Built-in LSP support: language intelligence — completion, diagnostics, and code actions — comes built in rather than as a separate setup
• Tree-sitter syntax highlighting: fast, accurate highlighting instead of regex-based approaches
• Vim-like modal editing: first-class, toggleable modal editing support without needing a plugin
• WASI plugin system: write plugins in languages that compile to WASI (e.g. C, Rust, AssemblyScript)
• Built-in terminal: run commands in your workspace without leaving the editor
• Remote development: connect to remote systems for a “local” editing experience, inspired by VSCode Remote Development

Use Cases

• Fast, native code editing on lower-powered or modern hardware
• Vim users wanting a modern GUI editor with first-class modal editing
• Developers who value full open source code and no telemetry
• Remote development workflows across servers and development environments

Platforms

Linux · macOS · Windows

Licence

Apache License 2.0

Website

lap.dev