Getting Started with Gemini CLI

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As AI becomes more deeply integrated into the developer workflow, tools like Gemini CLI are changing how we write, test, and explore code — all from the terminal.

If you love the command line and want to tap into Google’s powerful Gemini AI models without leaving your dev environment, this guide is for you.

🧠 What is Gemini CLI?

Gemini CLI is a command-line interface built by Google to bring the capabilities of Gemini models (like Gemini 1.5 Pro) directly into your terminal. It’s ideal for:

  • Explaining complex code
  • Generating and refactoring scripts
  • Asking technical questions
  • Summarizing logs and files

Think of it as ChatGPT or Copilot — but designed for CLI-focused developers.

💡 Real-Life Developer Scenarios

1. Need a Bash Command?

gemini "How to replace text in a file using sed?"

Gemini instantly gives: sed -i 's/old-text/new-text/g' file.txt

2. Explain Legacy Code

gemini explain legacy_script.py

Get a clear breakdown of what the code does — without digging through docs or StackOverflow.

3. Refactor JavaScript

gemini refactor app.js --prompt "Modernize and make it async"

Perfect for upgrading old codebases.

⚙️ How to Install Gemini CLI

Install Node.js

node -v

If not installed, download it from nodejs.org.

Install Gemini CLI

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

Get Your API Key

  • Visit Google AI Studio
  • Log in with your Google account
  • Generate your Gemini API key

Set Your API Key

Mac/Linux:

export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-api-key"

Windows CMD:

set GEMINI_API_KEY="your-api-key"

Or use a .env file in your project:

GEMINI_API_KEY=your-api-key

🚀 Useful Gemini Commands

Use Case Command
Ask technical question gemini "What is dependency injection?"
Explain code file gemini explain app.ts
Refactor a function gemini refactor index.js --prompt "Improve readability"
Summarize logs gemini summarize logs.txt
Generate from scratch gemini "Create Express.js API with MongoDB"

🔁 Gemini in Your Daily Dev Flow

Let’s say you’re building a MERN app:

  • Need help with a MongoDB query? Ask Gemini.
  • Want to convert a callback to async/await? Refactor it.
  • Got a crash log? Let Gemini summarize it for you.

Use this shell one-liner to batch explain all TypeScript files:

find src -name '*.ts' -exec gemini explain {} \;

🔐 Is It Safe to Use?

Yes — Gemini CLI communicates securely with Google’s API. Just avoid sending sensitive production data or private credentials in requests.

📌 Final Thoughts

Gemini CLI is like having an AI engineer right in your terminal. It’s simple, fast, and incredibly powerful for developers who want answers, explanations, and automation — all in one tool.

Whether you’re a full-stack developer, DevOps engineer, or script ninja, Gemini CLI is worth adding to your workflow.

📚 Quick Links

👉 Found this helpful? Share your favorite Gemini CLI command in the comments!

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