Learning GPUI by Building My Own Text Editor

Description and use

A lightweight Linux text editor, Slate, was built with Rust, GPUI, and GPUI Kit to showcase GPUI’s capabilities for native desktop apps.

Problem

The author wanted to learn GPUI, a Rust UI framework, by building a full-featured text editor instead of simple demos.

Outcome

Slate is a functional, lightweight Linux text editor with 23‑language syntax highlighting, multiple tabs, 39 themes, a minimap, live Markdown preview, and other editor conveniences, demonstrating GPUI’s viability for native desktop apps.

Workflow

• 1. Decided to build a text editor to learn GPUI.
• 2. Discovered GPUI Kit for reusable components.
• 3. Used GPUI Kit for editor core, tabs, search, and menus.
• 4. Built custom tab strip with drag‑and‑drop and colored accents.
• 5. Built custom find‑replace bar around Kit’s search engine.
• 6. Implemented minimap using GPUI canvas and external syntax highlighter.
• 7. Added theme reloading, file sidebar, live Markdown preview, and other conveniences.
• 8. Released Slate 1.0 on GitHub and AUR.
• 9. Planned future lightweight enhancements.

Evidence

I decided to build a text editor.

Source

GPUI Kit provides a collection of components built on GPUI, including things like tabs, dialogs, menus, trees, themes, and most importantly for this project, an actual text editor component.

Source

I built Slate's tab strip myself using GPUI, while still using Kit's components for things like context menus and tooltips.

Source

I ended up creating a custom minimap using GPUI's canvas rendering, with a separate syntax highlighter providing the colors.

Source

Slate 1.0 is now available on GitHub.

Source