Token - A Multi-Cursor Text Editor

Multi-cursor, code editor inspired by JetBrains IDEs, Vibe-coded in Rust, using Amp Code.
The repository includes a reviewed archive of 171 Amp conversations that informed the project.

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Installation

Pre-built Binaries

Download the latest release for your platform from token-editor.com or GitHub Releases.

Building from Source

Requires the Rust toolchain.

git clone https://github.com/HelgeSverre/token
cd token
just setup    # Install dependencies
just release  # Build optimized binary
just run      # Run the editor

For development:

just dev      # Run debug build (faster compile)
just watch    # Start bacon watch mode

Windows MSI packaging requires Windows, the Rust MSVC toolchain, PowerShell 7, and WiX Toolset 3.14 (candle.exe/light.exe on PATH, or the installation directory in WIX). Run just bundle-windows; the installer is written to target/x86_64-pc-windows-msvc/release/bundle/msi/Token.msi. The CI-only smoke script installs and uninstalls the package, so run it only on a disposable Windows system.

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Quick Start

1. Open a file: token path/to/file.rs or use Cmd+O
2. Open a folder: token path/to/project/ or use Cmd+Shift+O
3. Command palette: Cmd+Shift+A for all available commands
4. Toggle sidebar: Cmd+1 to show/hide the file tree

Command line

token returns to the shell right away and opens files in the editor that is already running; a folder always gets its own window.

Invocation	Effect
token src/main.rs:42:7	Open at line 42, column 7 (--line/--column also work)
token -w notes.md	Block until the tab is closed (or the editor exits)
token -w	Block until the editor exits
token .	Open the folder in its own window, reusing one already showing it
echo text | token -	Open stdin in a new tab
token --new-window file.rs	Start a separate editor instead of reusing the running one
token --foreground file.rs	Run the editor in this process, logs on stderr
token automate instances	List running editors; --instance <pid> targets one

Use it as a blocking editor with git config --global core.editor "token -w" or export EDITOR="token -w".

Shell completions

token --completions <shell> prints a completion script for bash, zsh, fish, powershell or nu:

token --completions zsh > "${fpath[1]}/_token"
token --completions bash > /etc/bash_completion.d/token
token --completions fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/token.fish
token --completions powershell >> $PROFILE
token --completions nu | save ~/.config/nushell/completions/token.nu   # then `source` it in config.nu

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Common shortcuts (Cmd = Command on macOS, Ctrl on Windows/Linux):

Files & Navigation

Action	Shortcut
Save	Cmd+S
Open File	Cmd+O
Open Folder	Cmd+Shift+O
Command Palette	Cmd+Shift+A
Go to Line	Cmd+L
Find/Replace	Cmd+F
Toggle Sidebar	Cmd+1

Editing

Action	Shortcut
Undo	Cmd+Z
Redo	Cmd+Shift+Z
Copy/Cut/Paste	Cmd+C/X/V
Select All	Cmd+A
Duplicate	Cmd+D
Delete Line	Cmd+Backspace

Multi-Cursor

Action	Shortcut
Add cursor	Option+Click
Add cursor above	Option+Option+Up
Add cursor below	Option+Option+Down
Select next match	Cmd+J

Note: Option+Option shortcuts are hardcoded and not remappable via keymap.yaml.

Navigation

Action	Shortcut
Word left/right	Option+←/→
Line start/end	Cmd+←/→ or Home/End
Document start/end	Ctrl+Home/End
Expand selection	Option+↑
Shrink selection	Option+↓

For the complete keybinding reference, see docs/KEYBINDINGS.md.

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Configuration

Configuration files are stored in ~/.config/token-editor/:

File	Purpose
keymap.yaml	Custom keybindings
config.yaml	Editor and UI preferences, including fonts
themes/<name>.yaml	Custom themes

See the documentation for details:

• Keybindings — Customize keyboard shortcuts
• Themes — Create and customize themes

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Commands

Run just help for the full command list.

Command	Description
just build	Build debug binary
just release	Build optimized release binary
just run	Run release build
just dev	Run debug build (faster compile)
just test	Run all tests
just fmt	Format code
just lint	Run clippy lints

The installed command is named token; desktop bundles and operating-system UI use the product name Token. On macOS, just app detects the host architecture, builds the native bundle and versioned archive, and opens Token.app.

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Built with AI

Token was built primarily through conversations with AI coding assistants, demonstrating effective human-AI collaboration on complex software projects. The methodology and 171 referenced Amp conversations are preserved in this repository so the evidence does not depend on a third-party profile remaining public.

• Building with AI — The framework used to build Token
• Amp conversation archive — Browse the reviewed transcripts

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Documentation

Document	Description
KEYBINDINGS.md	Complete keyboard shortcuts reference
THEMES.md	Theme customization guide
BUILDING_WITH_AI.md	AI-assisted development framework
EDITOR_UI_REFERENCE.md	Technical reference for editor geometry
CHANGELOG.md	Version history
CONTRIBUTING.md	Contribution guidelines

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

The included font, JetBrains Mono, is licensed under the OFL-1.1. The UI font, Inter 4.1, is bundled unmodified under its OFL-1.1 license.

Markdown preview bundles Mermaid and Highlight.js for offline diagrams and code highlighting, with their MIT and BSD-3-Clause licenses.