auto_update_helper

Active contributors: mikayla-maki, ConradIrwin

Purpose

crates/auto_update_helper is a small companion binary that finishes the auto-update process. The main zed binary cannot replace its own executable while running, so it downloads the new bundle, hands off to this helper, and exits. The helper swaps files into place and re-launches Zed.

Companion crates

• crates/auto_update — in-app update coordinator (checks for updates, downloads, and orchestrates the helper).
• crates/auto_update_ui — the GUI surface (notifications, "restart to update" prompts).

The split keeps the applying of an update independent of the running app's code.

How it works

sequenceDiagram
    participant Z as zed
    participant U as auto_update
    participant H as auto_update_helper
    Z->>U: tick: poll update server
    U-->>Z: New version available
    Z->>U: User clicks Update
    U->>U: Download bundle
    U->>H: spawn(--target old, --bundle new)
    Z-->>Z: exit
    H->>H: replace binaries
    H->>Z: relaunch

Entry points for modification

• Bundle layout / per-OS swap behaviour — crates/auto_update_helper/src.
• The download + signature verification — crates/auto_update/src.
• UX of the update prompt — crates/auto_update_ui/src.

Related pages

• zed — the app being updated