google/xi-editor
Xi Editor
Xi Editor is a high-performance text editor core written in Rust. It employs a decoupled architecture that separates core logic from the presentation layer using a JSON-based client-server protocol.
The project features a language-agnostic plugin system that communicates with external extensions via JSON messages over pipes. It manages text buffers using a persistent rope data structure to enable efficient editing of very large files.
The system supports asynchronous editor workflows by running expensive operations in background threads using data snapshots. This prevents background processing tasks from blocking the user interface.
Features
- Cross-Platform Editors - Provides a cross-platform text editor architecture with a decoupled backend and frontend.
- Low-Latency Text Editing - Ensures high-performance editing of very large files with low latency using a rope data structure.
- Protocol-Driven Editor Architectures - Features an architecture that separates core logic from the UI through a JSON-based communication protocol.
- Text Editors - Provides a high-performance text editor core written in Rust for managing buffers and operations.
- JSON Message Exchanges - Implements a JSON-based protocol to decouple the core editor logic from the presentation layer.
- Rust Systems Programming - Provides a high-performance editor core implemented in Rust for memory safety and concurrency.
- Editor Logic Decoupling - Decouples core text manipulation logic from platform-specific rendering and system I/O.
- Rope-Based Text Storage - Uses a persistent rope data structure to enable efficient editing and manipulation of very large text files.
- Immutable Document Snapshots - Employs immutable document snapshots to run expensive operations in the background without blocking the UI.
- Editor Extensions - Provides a framework for building editor extensions that communicate via a language-agnostic JSON protocol.
- Multi-Language Plugin Frameworks - Implements a language-agnostic plugin system allowing extensions to be written in any programming language.
- Pipe-Based Communication - Communicates with external plugins using JSON messages exchanged over standard input and output pipes.
- Asynchronous Background Processors - Offloads time-consuming editor operations to background threads to maintain interface responsiveness.
- Editor Workflow Concurrency - Implements asynchronous workflows using data snapshots to prevent heavy processing from freezing the editor UI.
- Editor Functionality Plugins - Supports an extensible plugin system that adds new capabilities to the editor via JSON message pipes.
- System Design and Architecture - Example of a modern, high-performance text editor architecture.
