VS Code stands in the realm of text editors as Chromium does in the world of web browsers: a source of numerous variants. A variety of specialized versions have been developed, each adding a unique twist to the immensely popular original from Microsoft.
A recent addition to this array is Void.
The GitHub page for Void presents it as an open-source alternative to Cursor.
Cursor is a subscription-based, cross-platform AI-powered text editor (derived from VS Code) that has captured significant attention. It is equipped with AI-facilitated code completions, predictive coding, code generation, editing suggestions, and advanced cursor positioning capabilities.
It’s even said to be popular with developers working on AI at companies like OpenAI and MidJourney, which is notable.
However, while Cursor offers a free plan, accessing most of the premium features requires a subscription. There is also some concerns regarding privacy that seem only avoidable on the $80/month plan.
Enter Void
Void is emerging as a free, open-source alternative to Cursor, although there are significant distinctions.
While Void focuses on AI, it uniquely doesn’t limit itself to specific proprietary, cloud-based LLMs like Cursor does. Instead, it supports various locally hosted LLMs, many of which are open-source.
Moreover, for those who prefer specific cloud models such as Claude, Gemini, or ChatGPT, Void provides direct connectivity — emphasizing direct to mean that the editor does not intermediate or monitor the interactions between your inputs and the AI responses.
It is reported that Void encompasses all the fundamental features expected from an AI code editor, including code auto-completion, inline editing, and a sidebar for posing questions and receiving varied responses (be they accurate, imprecise, or entirely erroneous).
Backed by Y Combinator, the team behind Void invites developers to engage and contribute, aiming to influence the development path and expand the AI integrations available within the platform.
A selection of experimental AI features will be available to test, including the big one: code generation, plus a range of community-contributed features like AI-powered code search.
Fork Buddies
Bored of VS Code?
Not all new text editors are forks. In July, the open-source, Rust-based text editor Zed launched on Linux to much enthusiasm. While the community and plugin ecosystem around it is smaller and less varied, it’s expanding. To cycle back to my Chromium analogy at the start, while VS Code is powerful and popular, it’s crucial that innovation isn’t concentrated solely within its ecosystem.
The upside to being a VS Code fork as opposed to a ‘from scratch’ effort is compatibility with the huge array of VS Code themes, plugins, and add-ons that exist.
That, plus the same underlying codebase as VS Code, means those who switch to Void won’t be completely at sea: they can port over their keybindings and other settings.
Download Void Editor
Void is free, open-source software under active development.
No binary builds have been released for Windows, macOS, or Linux as of writing, but there is a waitlist interested users can join to be notified once they’re available.
Otherwise, those skilled in compiling can retrieve the source code from Github and assemble it themselves to test it.
Find more information on the Void website.