Google announces Gemini CLI: What is it and how developers can benefit using it

Gemini CLI

Google has introduced Gemini CLI, a free and open-source AI agent that integrates the power of Gemini directly into developers' command-line interfaces. Built for speed, accessibility, and productivity, Gemini CLI gives developers direct access to the Gemini 2.5 Pro model within their terminals, offering unmatched usage limits and versatile capabilities.

What is Gemini CLI?
Gemini CLI is a command-line utility that brings Google’s Gemini AI directly to developers’ terminals. It’s designed to provide seamless AI assistance in code writing, debugging, problem solving, content creation, and more. With Gemini CLI, users can interact with the AI using natural language, allowing for code suggestions, dynamic troubleshooting, and task automation—all from the terminal.

Free access with generous limits
Developers can access Gemini CLI at no cost by signing in with a personal Google account. This grants a free Gemini Code Assist license, offering 60 model requests per minute and 1,000 requests per day—some of the highest free-tier limits in the industry. For those needing higher capacity or specific model access, Gemini CLI supports usage-based billing via Google AI Studio or Vertex AI.

Key features and developer benefits
Gemini CLI supports a wide range of tasks beyond coding. Developers can use it for real-time search grounding, script-based automation, file manipulation, and prompt customisation. The tool also supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), bundled extensions, and team-based configurations.

Additionally, Gemini CLI integrates with Gemini Code Assist, Google’s AI coding assistant, enabling consistent performance across both terminals and IDEs like VS Code. Developers can use agent mode to generate code, fix bugs, write tests, or build features with multi-step planning and error recovery.

Fully open source and extensible
Licensed under Apache 2.0, Gemini CLI is fully open source, giving developers transparency and flexibility. Google encourages community contributions via its GitHub repository, inviting developers to suggest features, report bugs, or enhance functionality.