| # Gemini CLI | |
| [](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/actions/workflows/ci.yml) | |
|  | |
| 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](https://github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/vertex-ai-creative-studio/tree/main/experiments/mcp-genmedia) | |
| - Ground your queries with the [Google Search](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/grounding) | |
| tool, built in to Gemini. | |
| ## Quickstart | |
| 1. **Prerequisites:** Ensure you have [Node.js version 20](https://nodejs.org/en/download) or higher installed. | |
| 2. **Run the CLI:** Execute the following command in your terminal: | |
| ```bash | |
| npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli | |
| ``` | |
| Or install it with: | |
| ```bash | |
| npm install -g @google/gemini-cli | |
| ``` | |
| Then, run the CLI from anywhere: | |
| ```bash | |
| gemini | |
| ``` | |
| 3. **Pick a color theme** | |
| 4. **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](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/rate-limits#free-tier) using Gemini 2.5 Pro, control over which model you use, and access to higher rate limits (with a paid plan): | |
| 1. Generate a key from [Google AI Studio](https://aistudio.google.com/apikey). | |
| 2. Set it as an environment variable in your terminal. Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your generated key. | |
| ```bash | |
| export GEMINI_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY" | |
| ``` | |
| 3. (Optionally) Upgrade your Gemini API project to a paid plan on the API key page (will automatically unlock [Tier 1 rate limits](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/rate-limits#tier-1)) | |
| ### Use a Vertex AI API key: | |
| The Vertex AI API provides a [free tier](https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/start/express-mode/overview) using express mode for Gemini 2.5 Pro, control over which model you use, and access to higher rate limits with a billing account: | |
| 1. Generate a key from [Google Cloud](https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/start/api-keys). | |
| 2. 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 | |
| ```bash | |
| export GOOGLE_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY" | |
| export GOOGLE_GENAI_USE_VERTEXAI=true | |
| ``` | |
| 3. (Optionally) Add a billing account on your project to get access to [higher usage limits](https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/quotas) | |
| For other authentication methods, including Google Workspace accounts, see the [authentication](./docs/cli/authentication.md) 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: | |
| ```sh | |
| 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: | |
| ```sh | |
| 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](./CONTRIBUTING.md). | |
| - Explore the available **[CLI Commands](./docs/cli/commands.md)**. | |
| - If you encounter any issues, review the **[troubleshooting guide](./docs/troubleshooting.md)**. | |
| - For more comprehensive documentation, see the [full documentation](./docs/index.md). | |
| - Take a look at some [popular tasks](#popular-tasks) for more inspiration. | |
| - Check out our **[Official Roadmap](./ROADMAP.md)** | |
| ### Troubleshooting | |
| Head over to the [troubleshooting guide](docs/troubleshooting.md) if you're | |
| having issues. | |
| ## Popular tasks | |
| ### Explore a new codebase | |
| Start by `cd`ing into an existing or newly-cloned repository and running `gemini`. | |
| ```text | |
| > Describe the main pieces of this system's architecture. | |
| ``` | |
| ```text | |
| > What security mechanisms are in place? | |
| ``` | |
| ### Work with your existing code | |
| ```text | |
| > Implement a first draft for GitHub issue #123. | |
| ``` | |
| ```text | |
| > 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. | |
| ```text | |
| > Make me a slide deck showing the git history from the last 7 days, grouped by feature and team member. | |
| ``` | |
| ```text | |
| > Make a full-screen web app for a wall display to show our most interacted-with GitHub issues. | |
| ``` | |
| ### Interact with your system | |
| ```text | |
| > Convert all the images in this directory to png, and rename them to use dates from the exif data. | |
| ``` | |
| ```text | |
| > Organize my PDF invoices by month of expenditure. | |
| ``` | |
| ### Uninstall | |
| Head over to the [Uninstall](docs/Uninstall.md) 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](./docs/tos-privacy.md). | |