@google-dev/gemini-cli-core

Gemini CLI

This repository contains the Gemini CLI, a command-line AI workflow tool that connects to your tools, understands your code and accelerates your workflows.

With the Gemini CLI you can:

• Query and edit large codebases in and beyond Gemini's 1M token context window.
• Generate new apps from PDFs or sketches, using Gemini's multimodal capabilities.
• Automate operational tasks, like querying pull requests or handling complex rebases.
• Use tools and MCP servers to connect new capabilities, including media generation with Imagen, Veo or Lyria
• Ground your queries with the Google Search tool, built in to Gemini.

Quickstart

• Prerequisites: Ensure you have Node.js version 20 or higher installed.

• Run the CLI: Execute the following command in your terminal:

  npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli
  

  Or install it with:

  npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
  gemini
  

• Pick a color theme

• Authenticate: When prompted, sign in with your personal Google account. This will grant you up to 60 model requests per minute and 1,000 model requests per day using Gemini.

You are now ready to use the Gemini CLI!

Use a Gemini API key:

The Gemini API provides a free tier with 100 requests per day using Gemini 2.5 Pro, control over which model you use, and access to higher rate limits (with a paid plan):

• Generate a key from Google AI Studio.

• Set it as an environment variable in your terminal. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your generated key.

  export GEMINI_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
  

• (Optionally) Upgrade your Gemini API project to a paid plan on the API key page (will automatically unlock Tier 1 rate limits)

Use a Vertex AI API key:

The Vertex AI API provides a free tier using express mode for Gemini 2.5 Pro, control over which model you use, and access to higher rate limits with a billing account:

• Generate a key from Google Cloud.

• Set it as an environment variable in your terminal. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your generated key and set GOOGLE_GENAI_USE_VERTEXAI to true

  export GOOGLE_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
  export GOOGLE_GENAI_USE_VERTEXAI=true
  

• (Optionally) Add a billing account on your project to get access to higher usage limits

For other authentication methods, including Google Workspace accounts, see the authentication guide.

Examples

Once the CLI is running, you can start interacting with Gemini from your shell.

You can start a project from a new directory:

cd new-project/
gemini
> Write me a Gemini Discord bot that answers questions using a FAQ.md file I will provide

Or work with an existing project:

git clone https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli
cd gemini-cli
gemini
> Give me a summary of all of the changes that went in yesterday

Next steps

• Learn how to contribute to or build from the source.
• Explore the available CLI Commands.
• If you encounter any issues, review the Troubleshooting guide.
• For more comprehensive documentation, see the full documentation.
• Take a look at some popular tasks for more inspiration.

Troubleshooting

Head over to the troubleshooting guide if you're having issues.

Popular tasks

Explore a new codebase

Start by cding into an existing or newly-cloned repository and running gemini.

> Describe the main pieces of this system's architecture.

> What security mechanisms are in place?

Work with your existing code

> Implement a first draft for GitHub issue #123.

> Help me migrate this codebase to the latest version of Java. Start with a plan.

Automate your workflows

Use MCP servers to integrate your local system tools with your enterprise collaboration suite.

> Make me a slide deck showing the git history from the last 7 days, grouped by feature and team member.

> Make a full-screen web app for a wall display to show our most interacted-with GitHub issues.

Interact with your system

> Convert all the images in this directory to png, and rename them to use dates from the exif data.

> Organize my PDF invoices by month of expenditure.

Uninstall

Head over to the Uninstall guide for uninstallation instructions.

Terms of Service and Privacy Notice

For details on the terms of service and privacy notice applicable to your use of Gemini CLI, see the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.