Google has officially released Gemini CLI, a groundbreaking open-source AI agent that brings the full power of Gemini 2.5 Pro directly into developers' terminals, marking a significant escalation in the AI coding assistant war against OpenAI's offerings and GitHub Copilot.
The free and open-source tool provides lightweight access to Gemini, giving developers "the most direct path from your prompt to our model" while offering capabilities that extend far beyond simple code completion. Unlike traditional AI coding assistants that focus primarily on code suggestions, Gemini CLI transforms the entire terminal experience into an AI-powered workspace.
Key differentiators include:
- Massive Context Window: Gemini CLI can query and edit large codebases in and beyond Gemini's 1M token context window, allowing developers to work with entire repositories simultaneously rather than individual files.
- Multimodal Capabilities: Generate new apps from PDFs or sketches, using Gemini's multimodal capabilities, enabling developers to transform visual concepts directly into functional code.
- Built-in Tool Integration: The platform includes Google Search integration for real-time context, support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, and extensions for media generation with Imagen, Veo, and Lyria.
To ensure developers rarely hit limits during preview, Google offers "the industry's largest allowance: 60 model requests per minute and 1,000 requests per day at no charge" when using a personal Google account. This dramatically exceeds typical free tier limitations from competitors and positions Gemini CLI as the most accessible enterprise-grade AI coding assistant available.
Professional developers requiring higher limits can leverage Google AI Studio or Vertex AI keys for usage-based billing, while enterprise teams can access Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licenses.
Seamless Integration with Existing Developer Workflows
Gemini CLI is fully open source under the Apache 2.0 license, enabling developers to inspect the codebase, audit security, and contribute via GitHub. This transparency addresses growing concerns about proprietary AI tools in enterprise environments.
The tool supports extensive customisation through system prompts (via GEMINI.md files), team configuration settings, and extensibility through emerging standards like MCP. Developers can automate operational tasks, like querying pull requests or handling complex rebases, and integrate seamlessly with existing CI/CD pipelines.
Gemini CLI's launch represents Google's strategic push to capture developer mindshare in the terminal environment, traditionally dominated by command-line tools and scripts. By offering capabilities that span from content generation and problem solving to deep research and task management, Google positions this tool as a comprehensive development companion rather than a narrow coding assistant.
The integration with Gemini Code Assist ensures consistent AI capabilities across both VS Code and terminal environments, providing developers with a unified experience regardless of their preferred development setup.
How to Install Gemini CLI
Prerequisites
Before installing Gemini CLI, ensure your system meets these requirements:
- Node.js: Version 18 or higher installed on your system
- Operating System: Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Internet Connection: Required for initial setup and API calls
- Google Account: Personal Google account for authentication
Method 1: Quick Start (Recommended)
Step 1: Run via NPX (No Installation Required)
npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli
This command will:
- Download and run the latest version of Gemini CLI
- Automatically handle dependencies
- Launch the interactive setup process
Step 2: Choose Your Colour Theme
The CLI will present theme options for your terminal interface. Select your preferred colour scheme using the arrow keys and press Enter.
Step 3: Authenticate with Google
- When prompted, select "Sign in with Google Account."
- Your default browser will open to Google's authentication page
- Sign in with your personal Google account
- Grant the requested permissions for Gemini CLI
- Return to your terminal - authentication should complete automatically
Important: Personal Google accounts receive:
- Up to 60 model requests per minute
- 1,000 model requests per day
- Access to Gemini 2.5 Pro with 1M token context window
Method 2: Global Installation
Step 1: Install Globally via NPM
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
Step 2: Launch Gemini CLI
gemini
Step 3: Complete Authentication
Follow the same authentication process as described in Method 1, Step 3.
Method 3: Development/Contributing Setup
Step 1: Clone the Repository
git clone https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli
cd gemini-cli
Step 2: Install Dependencies
npm install
Step 3: Run from Source
gemini
What's Next?
With Gemini CLI installed and configured, you're ready to transform your development workflow. The tool excels at:
- Code Understanding: Analyse complex codebases and architectures
- Rapid Prototyping: Generate applications from descriptions or sketches
- Workflow Automation: Streamline repetitive development tasks
- Problem Solving: Debug issues with AI-powered analysis
- Learning: Explore new technologies with guided assistance
Start with simple queries and gradually explore more complex use cases as you become familiar with Gemini CLI's capabilities. The open-source nature means continuous improvements and community contributions will enhance functionality over time.
For additional resources, visit the official documentation and join the growing community of developers leveraging AI-powered terminal experiences.