pbs-projects/PBS-Planning/Homelab/Editor-Stack/editor-stack-upgrade.md

project	type	status	tags	created	updated	path
editor-stack-upgrade	project-plan	active	editors neovim zed zellij lazyvim homelab workflow	2026-04-08	2026-04-08	PBS-Planning/Homelab/Editor-Stack

Editor Stack Upgrade

Context

VS Code Remote-SSH crashed production server after 6 instances were accidentally left open (each spawns its own Node server process on the remote). Replacing with a two-track editor workflow: a lightweight GUI for heavier refactors, and a terminal-native stack for quick edits and street cred.

Goals

• Eliminate VS Code Remote-SSH resource bloat on production server
• Establish Zed as primary GUI editor with remote SSH workflow
• Build terminal-native editing muscle memory with Neovim + LazyVim
• Replace tmux workflow with Zellij (modern, discoverable keybinds)
• Keep production server stable during rollout (test everything on tower first)

Track A: Zed (GUI path)

Phase A1 — Install on tower

• Install Zed on Manjaro tower

  curl -f https://zed.dev/install.sh | sh
  

• Verify binary at ~/.local/bin/zed
• Launch and complete first-run setup
• Sign in (optional, for settings sync)

Phase A2 — Remote SSH setup

• Confirm production server is in ~/.ssh/config with alias
• Load SSH key into ssh-agent if passphrase-protected

  eval $(ssh-agent)
  ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
  

• In Zed: ctrl+shift+p → "remote: connect to host" → add prod server
• Verify remote agent installs to ~/.local/bin on production server
• Open a test project over SSH and confirm LSP works

Phase A3 — Validate resource footprint

• Check process count on prod server after Zed connect

  ps aux | grep zed
  

• Compare RAM usage vs old VS Code Remote-SSH baseline
• Document findings in session notes

Track B: Terminal path (Zellij + Neovim + LazyVim)

Phase B1 — Zellij on tower

• Install Zellij

  cargo install --locked zellij
  

  or via pacman/AUR if preferred
• Launch and work through built-in tutorial
• Learn core keybinds (shown at bottom of screen — that's the whole point)
• Create first layout file for homelab workflow

  ~/.config/zellij/layouts/homelab.kdl
  

Phase B2 — Neovim + LazyVim on tower

• Install Neovim (need ≥0.9.0 for LazyVim)

  sudo pacman -S neovim
  

• Install prerequisites: git, make, unzip, gcc, ripgrep, fd, a Nerd Font
• Back up any existing Neovim config

  mv ~/.config/nvim ~/.config/nvim.bak
  mv ~/.local/share/nvim ~/.local/share/nvim.bak
  

• Clone LazyVim starter

  git clone https://github.com/LazyVim/starter ~/.config/nvim
  rm -rf ~/.config/nvim/.git
  

• First launch: let Lazy.nvim install all plugins
• Run :LazyHealth and resolve any warnings
• Run :Mason and install LSPs for Python, Go, Bash, Lua

Phase B3 — Learn the basics (week 1)

• Complete vimtutor (comes with Neovim, ~30 min)
• Daily driver for config edits only — don't force it on real work yet
• Learn: motions (h/j/k/l, w/b/e), modes (i/a/o, esc), save/quit (:w/:q)
• Learn LazyVim extras: `` leader menu, ff find files, sg grep
• Learn file tree: e

Phase B4 — Zellij + Neovim integration

• Create Zellij layout with Neovim + terminal panes
• Test detach/reattach workflow

  zellij attach homelab
  

• Configure Neovim to respect Zellij pane navigation (if desired)

Phase B5 — Roll out to production server

• Install Zellij on prod server
• Install Neovim + LazyVim on prod server
• Sync LazyVim config via git (store in trucktrav/dotfiles or similar)
• Create persistent Zellij session for prod work

  zellij attach -c prod-work
  

• Document SSH + zellij attach workflow

Decision points

• Dotfiles repo strategy — new repo or add to existing?
• LazyVim customization — keep starter minimal or add personal tweaks early?
• Zed vs Neovim split — when to reach for which? (document after 2 weeks of use)

Success criteria

• Zero VS Code processes on production server
• Can SSH into prod, zellij attach, and resume work from any device
• Comfortable enough in Neovim to edit configs without reaching for Zed
• Production server RAM usage during editing sessions documented and reduced

Notes & learnings

(populate as you go)

Next session

Start with Phase A1 (Zed install on tower) — fastest win, immediately usable, low risk.

...sent from Jenny & Travis