1/15/2025

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Getting Started with Gemini CLI: Your AI Development Companion

Gemini CLI represents a revolutionary approach to AI-assisted development, bringing Google's most powerful AI model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, directly to your command line. This guide will help you get started with this powerful tool.

What is Gemini CLI?

Gemini CLI is an open-source AI agent that transforms how developers interact with artificial intelligence. Instead of switching between different tools and platforms, you can access Gemini's capabilities directly from your terminal, making AI assistance a natural part of your development workflow.

Key Features

🤖 Gemini 2.5 Pro Integration

Access Google's latest and most powerful AI model with cutting-edge reasoning capabilities.

🆓 Free Tier Available

Get started with generous free usage limits - up to 1,000 requests per day.

🔓 Open Source

Fully open-source with transparent development and community contributions.

🔧 Extensible Architecture

Integrate with external tools via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Installation

Setting up Gemini CLI is straightforward:

# Install globally via npm
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli@latest

# Verify installation
gemini --version

Initial Setup

1. Get Your API Key

Visit Google AI Studio to obtain your free API key.

2. Configure Authentication

# Set your API key
export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

# Make it permanent (bash/zsh)
echo 'export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-key"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

3. Test Your Setup

# Simple test
gemini -p "Hello, can you help me with development?"

# Check authentication
gemini /about

Your First AI-Assisted Development Session

Once installed, you can start an interactive session:

gemini

Common Use Cases

Code Generation: Ask Gemini to write code snippets, functions, or entire modules:

Generate a Python function to validate email addresses

Code Review: Get feedback on your existing code:

@src/auth.js Review this authentication module for security issues

File Operations: Analyze and modify files:

@package.json Add TypeScript support to this project

Learning: Get explanations and tutorials:

Explain how React hooks work with practical examples

Pro Tips for New Users

1. Use File References

Include specific files in your prompts with the @ syntax:

@src/components/Header.js Optimize this component for performance

2. Leverage Directory Analysis

Analyze entire directories:

@src/ Summarize the architecture of this React project

3. Take Advantage of Shell Integration

Execute shell commands within Gemini:

!npm test

4. Enable Sandbox Mode

For safe code execution:

gemini -s

Next Steps

Once you're comfortable with the basics:

  1. Explore Advanced Features: Learn about MCP servers and sandboxing
  2. Customize Your Workflow: Configure settings.json for your needs
  3. Join the Community: Contribute to the open-source project
  4. Read the Documentation: Dive deeper into command reference and troubleshooting

Conclusion

Gemini CLI opens up new possibilities for AI-assisted development. By integrating powerful AI capabilities directly into your command line workflow, you can write better code faster and learn more effectively.

Ready to transform your development experience? Install Gemini CLI today and start building with AI assistance!

Want to learn more? Check out our Command Reference and Advanced Features guides.

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