Zénit: a desktop workspace for code, AI assistance and real execution

Zénit is a desktop coding workspace designed to streamline workflows involving code, AI assistance, and real-time execution. Built with a Python backend, JavaScript frontend, Monaco and native webview windows, this tool aims to keep editors, explorers, terminals and assistance all together in one place without forcing them onto a single monitor.

One of the key features of Zénit is its ability to detach the editor and its terminal separately, allowing users to resize or move them independently. The terminal can also be used directly within the main application, while maintaining a shared buffer for unsaved edits and saves between the application and an external editor. Any changes to appearance, project-tree, or document revisions are synchronized across all views.

Melody, the development assistant in the workspace, allows users to connect a local engine or supported provider and model. However, Zénit does not bundle a hosted AI subscription, giving users full control over their AI tools. The request's destination and context are visible in R5, enabling users to choose whether to use Selection or the whole file, or even just code. This improvement fixes a problem with the old context selector, which included the file in the question path.

Zénit also offers an Edit file mode for live buffer changes, which uses the complete file to preserve surrounding code. A reviewed selection suggestion replaces only the range captured with the request, and undo is available. File plans allow users to create, update or delete named session files with recovery copies and review.

The Forge workspace acts as the execution workspace, where the main Run action saves the current file, prepares the configured runtime, and starts an interactive terminal. Python has its own Run buffer for unsaved editor content, and C/GDB has its own debugging action. The small sample file demonstrates the execution loop, where a program's output is displayed in the terminal and the execution card reports elapsed time and the real exit code. The entire process can be repeated by running the file again.

Design elements such as coordinated headers, quieter surfaces, clear primary actions, and visible keyboard focus are used throughout the workspace. Zénit offers light, dark and forest palettes, and respects reduced motion settings with scrolling working seamlessly without permanently visible scrollbar chrome. The welcome screen and My activity provide additional routes back into a project.

The current verified binary for Zénit only supports Windows 10/11 x64, running on Edge WebView2. The release includes an installer, portable ZIP, manifest and SHA-256 checksums. Preview binaries are unsigned, and the IDE comes with its own Python runtime. Project toolchains and AI integrations are configured separately.

Zénit is still in preview, and while VS Code extension compatibility exists, regex/bulk replace features are still in future work, and Linux/macOS packages require separate build and verification. The original code and documentation use the Apache-2.0 license, while the independent ASM worker and dependencies retain their existing licenses.

Users are encouraged to explore the code and screenshots, download the R5 preview, and provide feedback on features like detached-window editing, terminal behavior at different DPI settings, and Melody's context controls. The final question asks which part of the edit → run → inspect loop users would improve first.