Step-by-step guide to installing Gemini CLI for VS Code

With the rapid advancement of AI-powered programming tools, integrating virtual assistants directly into the editor has become an indispensable habit for optimising workflow efficiency. If you are looking to bring the power of Google Gemini into Visual Studio Code (VS Code), this article is for you.

Below is a step-by-step guide to installing and configuring Gemini CLI.

1. Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure your computer has the following:

• Node.js and npm: The essential package manager required to run the installation commands.
• Visual Studio Code (VS Code): Your primary coding environment.

2. Detailed Installation Steps

Step 1: Open Terminal in VS Code

Launch VS Code. Open a new Terminal window by selecting Terminal > New Terminal from the menu bar, or using the shortcut:

• Windows/Linux: `Ctrl + ``
• macOS: `Cmd + ``

Step 2: Install Gemini CLI

In the newly opened Terminal window, run the following command to download and install the latest version of Gemini CLI globally: https://geminicli.com/

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli@latest

Note: This process may take a few dozen seconds depending on your internet speed.

Step 3: Sign in with your Google Account

Once the installation is complete, the next step is to authenticate so that the CLI can connect to the Gemini API using your account.

Type the following command into the Terminal:

gemini login

At this point, the system will automatically open your default web browser. The subsequent steps are straightforward:

1. Select the Google Account you wish to use.
2. Click Allow to grant access permissions.
3. When the browser confirms successful authentication, you can close that tab and return to VS Code. The Terminal will also display a message indicating that you have logged in successfully.

Step 4: Run a Test

To verify that everything is working smoothly, you can ask Gemini to perform a small task directly in the Terminal. For example:

"Write me a gemini.md file about this project overview"

Gemini will return the result directly to your Terminal within seconds.

3. Conclusion

With just a single installation command and a few basic Google account login steps, you have successfully integrated Gemini CLI into your daily workflow on VS Code. Wishing you productive coding sessions and greater time savings with the support of AI!