{"id":4376,"date":"2026-02-06T06:26:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T06:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/?p=4376"},"modified":"2026-02-06T06:26:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T06:26:06","slug":"how-to-install-and-use-the-gemini-cli-and-implement-it-in-vs-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/how-to-install-and-use-the-gemini-cli-and-implement-it-in-vs-code\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install and Use the Gemini CLI (and Implement It in VS Code)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you spend a lot of time in the terminal, the <strong>Gemini CLI<\/strong> can save you a ton of effort. It lets you talk to Gemini directly from your command line\u2014perfect for quick coding help, explanations, refactoring suggestions, and even multi-step tasks. Google describes it as an open-source AI agent for terminal workflows. (Google Cloud Documentation)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below is a simple, step-by-step guide to <strong>install<\/strong>, <strong>use<\/strong>, and <strong>connect Gemini CLI with VS Code<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Gemini CLI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gemini CLI<\/strong> is a command-line tool that brings Gemini into your terminal. It supports interactive usage and is designed to help you with tasks like debugging, improving test coverage, creating features, and more. (Google Cloud Documentation)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prerequisites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before installing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Node.js installed<\/strong> (you already have Node on your PC)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>npm available<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Check with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>node -v\nnpm -v\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Install Gemini CLI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Install globally using npm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>npm install -g @google\/gemini-cli\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Then start it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>gemini\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the standard installation method mentioned in the official docs. (Gemini CLI)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Authenticate (Login)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>gemini\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>it will typically prompt you to <strong>Login with Google<\/strong> (browser-based OAuth flow). (<a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/google-gemini\/gemini-cli?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GitHub<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After login, you can start using it normally from the terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Basic Usage (Daily Commands)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ask a question<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>gemini \"Explain JWT in simple words with an example\"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Generate code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>gemini \"Write an Express.js API with a \/health route\"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improve code quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>gemini \"Suggest performance improvements for a Node.js API\"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also explore built-in CLI commands inside the tool (Gemini CLI includes session\/behavior commands). (<a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/google-gemini\/gemini-cli\/blob\/main\/docs\/cli\/commands.md?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GitHub<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Implement Gemini CLI in VS Code (Proper Integration)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>You have two good ways to use Gemini CLI in VS Code:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Option A: Use Gemini CLI inside VS Code Terminal (Simplest)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <strong>VS Code<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open your project folder<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open terminal: <strong>Terminal \u2192 New Terminal<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Run:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>gemini\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Now your AI workflow stays inside the VS Code terminal while you code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Option B: Enable the Official VS Code Integration (Best Experience)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gemini CLI supports <strong>deep VS Code integration<\/strong> like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>workspace + file context awareness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>selection-aware prompts (ask about highlighted code)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>native <strong>diff view inside VS Code<\/strong> to review changes easily (Google Developers Blog)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) Start Gemini CLI in VS Code terminal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>gemini\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) Install the VS Code companion extension from Gemini CLI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Inside the Gemini CLI session, run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\/ide install\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) Enable IDE integration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\/ide enable\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4) Disable anytime<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\/ide disable\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>These commands are documented by Google\u2019s developer blog for Gemini CLI + VS Code integration. (Google Developers Blog)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What You Can Do After VS Code Integration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) Explain selected code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select code in VS Code<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask in Gemini CLI something like:<br>\u201cExplain this code and suggest improvements\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Gemini CLI can use selection\/workspace context when connected. (Google Developers Blog)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) Review changes in VS Code Diff Editor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When Gemini proposes changes, VS Code can open a diff editor to review and accept\/reject edits\u2014much easier than reading terminal output. (Google Developers Blog)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) Run Gemini CLI from VS Code Command Palette<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After installing the extension, VS Code can expose commands like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gemini CLI: Run<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gemini CLI: Accept Diff<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gemini CLI: Close Diff Editor<\/strong> (Gemini CLI)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Troubleshooting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cgemini is not recognized\u201d on Windows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Try:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Close VS Code and CMD completely<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reopen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check global npm path is working:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>where gemini\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Auth issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just run again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>gemini\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>and complete the browser login flow. (<a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/google-gemini\/gemini-cli\/blob\/main\/docs\/get-started\/authentication.md?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GitHub<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want <strong>fast terminal help<\/strong>, Gemini CLI alone is enough.<br>If you want a smoother dev workflow with <strong>selection context + diff editor inside VS Code<\/strong>, enable the IDE integration using <code>\/ide install<\/code> and <code>\/ide enable<\/code>. (Google Developers Blog)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you tell me your OS (Windows yes) and your preferred setup (<strong>CLI only<\/strong> vs <strong>VS Code integration<\/strong>), I can rewrite this blog in your exact website style (long-form, more sections, table, etc.).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you spend a lot of time in the terminal, the Gemini CLI can save you a ton of effort. It lets you talk to Gemini directly&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3882,3891,3885,3889,3896,1504,3894,3890,3883,2597,2587,1946,3880,3879,3881,3893,3887,3886,3892,736,3884,3895,1057,3888],"class_list":["post-4376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-ai-cli-tool","tag-ai-coding-assistant","tag-ai-for-developers","tag-ai-in-vs-code","tag-ai-tools-for-coding","tag-backend-development","tag-cli-automation","tag-coding-productivity","tag-command-line-ai","tag-developer-productivity","tag-developer-tools","tag-devops-tools","tag-gemini-ai","tag-gemini-cli","tag-google-gemini","tag-javascript-development","tag-node-js-tools","tag-npm-global-packages","tag-programming-tools","tag-software-development","tag-terminal-ai","tag-terminal-workflow","tag-visual-studio-code","tag-vs-code-integration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4376"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4376\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4377,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4376\/revisions\/4377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devopssupport.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}