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# Building Zed for macOS

## Repository

Clone down the [Zed repository](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed).

## Dependencies

- Install [rustup](https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install)

- Install [Xcode](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/xcode/id497799835?mt=12) from the macOS App Store, or from the [Apple Developer](https://developer.apple.com/download/all/) website. Note this requires a developer account.

> Ensure you launch Xcode after installing, and install the macOS components, which is the default option.

- Install [Xcode command line tools](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/resources/)

  ```sh
  xcode-select --install
  ```

- Ensure that the Xcode command line tools are using your newly installed copy of Xcode:

  ```sh
  sudo xcode-select --switch /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
  sudo xcodebuild -license accept
  ```

- Install `cmake` (required by [a dependency](https://docs.rs/wasmtime-c-api-impl/latest/wasmtime_c_api/))

  ```sh
  brew install cmake
  ```

## Building Zed from Source

Once you have the dependencies installed, you can build Zed using [Cargo](https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/).

For a debug build:

```sh
cargo run
```

For a release build:

```sh
cargo run --release
```

And to run the tests:

```sh
cargo test --workspace
```

## Backend Dependencies

If you are developing collaborative features of Zed, you'll need to install the dependencies of zed's `collab` server:

- Install [Postgres](https://postgresapp.com)
- Install [Livekit](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/livekit) and [Foreman](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/foreman)

  ```sh
  brew install livekit foreman
  ```

- Follow the steps in the [collab README](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed/blob/main/crates/collab/README.md) to configure the Postgres database for integration tests

Alternatively, if you have [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) installed you can bring up all the `collab` dependencies using Docker Compose:

```sh
docker compose up -d
```

## Troubleshooting

### Error compiling metal shaders

```sh
error: failed to run custom build command for gpui v0.1.0 (/Users/path/to/zed)`**

xcrun: error: unable to find utility "metal", not a developer tool or in PATH
Title: Building Zed on macOS: Dependencies, Build Instructions, and Troubleshooting
Summary
This section provides instructions on how to build the Zed editor on macOS. It covers cloning the repository, installing necessary dependencies like rustup, Xcode, Xcode command line tools, and cmake. It then details how to build Zed using Cargo for both debug and release modes, and how to run tests. Additionally, it explains how to set up backend dependencies for collaborative features, including Postgres and Livekit, with instructions for Docker Compose as an alternative. A troubleshooting section addresses common errors like issues compiling metal shaders.