qkd · a native code reader · macOS

qkd

AI writes the code now.
qkd is for reading it.
download .dmg · 5.9 MB
binary 0MB
idle memory 0MB
cold start 0ms
ai features 0
plugins 0
~/code/qkd · main · read
crates/qkd-buffer/src/lib.rs ln 19 · col 1 · rust ⌘Oopen ⌘⌥Ofolder ⌘Pgoto
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Language
use std::{
fs, io,
ops::Range,
path::{Path, PathBuf},
};
 
use ropey::Rope;
use tree_sitter::Tree;
 
#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
pub enum Language {
Rust,
TypeScript,
Python,
Toml,
Markdown,
Plain,
}
impl Language {
pub fn detect(path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> Self {
match path
.as_ref()
.extension()
read · +crumb esc exit minimal · ⌘⇧D diff · ⌘⌥B history
01 / manifesto
what qkd is, and isn't.
if it isn't on the left, it isn't in the binary.

qkd is

  • +a code reader
  • +a single native binary
  • +tree-sitter highlighting
  • +fuzzy file / symbol jumper
  • +git diff & blame, inline
  • +keyboard first
  • +quiet

qkd is not

  • −an AI assistant
  • −a writing-first editor
  • −an electron app
  • −a plugin host
  • −a terminal multiplexer
  • −a settings playground
  • −a startup
02 / loop · interactive
⌘P, three keys,
you're in the file.
type to filter, ↑↓ to select, ↵ to open. real, not a video.
~/code/qkd · main · goto file
live
crates/qkd-buffer/src/lib.rs ln 19 · col 1 · rust
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goto file esc · close
    read · interactive ↑↓select ↵open escclose
    this is the real palette — click it and type. no js framework · single-file worker
    04 / size
    orders of magnitude,
    not percentages.
    install footprint on disk. lower is better.
    qkd native rust · single binary
    0 MB
    a terminal editor curses + treesitter
    0 MB
    a native IDE cocoa + clang
    0 MB
    an electron editor chromium + node
    0 MB
    a JVM IDE jbr + bundled plugins
    0
    install-time on-disk · approximate · macOS 15

    fifteen seconds to install.
    one to uninstall.

    one file. drop in /Applications. to remove, drag to trash. nothing else.

    qkd-0.2.9-macos.dmg ↗ appcast.xml ↗
    $ curl -L https://qkd.mings.work/qkd-latest.dmg -o qkd.dmg copy
    $ open qkd.dmg && cp -R /Volumes/qkd/qkd.app /Applications/ copy
    05 / about
    standing on shoulders.
    qkd is GPL-3.0-or-later. built on these libraries.
    library
    license
    role
    GPUI zed-industries/zed
    Apache-2.0
    rendering & layout
    ztracing · zlog zed (transitive via gpui)
    GPL-3.0
    tracing & logging
    tree-sitter + rust / ts / py / md / toml grammars
    MIT
    incremental parsing
    ropey
    MIT
    rope-backed text buffer
    ripgrep stack ignore · grep-regex · grep-searcher
    Unlicense/MIT
    workspace search
    notify
    CC0/MIT
    workspace watcher
    Sparkle 2.6.4
    MIT
    auto-update framework
    Geist Mono
    OFL-1.1
    the typeface
    objc2
    MIT/Apache
    macOS bridge
    clap
    MIT/Apache
    CLI parsing
    ~500 more transitive Rust crates
    mixed
    see /notices
    source on GitHub ↗ LICENSE (GPL-3) ↗ full NOTICES ↗
    06 / questions
    three obvious objections.
    the only ones we hear.
    why can't I write code in it?
    you can. we don't stop you. but qkd doesn't ship completions, snippets, multi-cursor or refactors. use vim / cursor / your terminal for that. qkd is for the after.
    no plugins. really?
    really. plugin systems drift editors toward the average of their plugins. we'd rather ship a small thing that stays small.
    will you stay this small?
    that's the only promise on this page. v1.0 will not exceed 15 MB on disk.