Gemini CLI: What It Is and How to Install It

Google Quietly Drops Another Bombshell: Meet Gemini CLI

MiniToolAI’s Blog has been closely following the AI development space, and guess what? Google has quietly released another game-changer—Gemini CLI, an open-source command-line AI development tool. It seems Google is plotting something big behind the scenes.

So, what exactly is Gemini CLI and how can you install it? Stick around till the end—we’ve got all the details.

What is Gemini CLI?

In simple terms, Gemini CLI brings Gemini 1.5 Pro directly to your terminal. And here’s the kicker: free-tier users get 1,000 requests per day and up to 60 requests per minute. For developers, this feels like hitting the jackpot.

While other AI dev tools in the market are either heavily restricted or come with a hefty price tag, Google’s move with Gemini CLI effectively blows the competition out of the water.

According to official documentation, Gemini CLI’s power lies in its integrated tools that allow you to:

• Use Google Search to fetch real-time web data, offering external context for better AI responses.
• Extend its capabilities via built-in support for the Model-in-Context Protocol (MCP) and other native plugins.
• Customize commands and prompts to tailor Gemini for your specific needs and workflow.
• Automate tasks and integrate seamlessly into your existing pipelines by invoking Gemini CLI non-interactively in scripts.

But that’s not all—Gemini CLI can also assist with content creation, such as generating short videos using Veo and Imagen.

Most notably, it boasts a 1-million-token context window, allowing developers to feed in entire codebases so the AI can grasp full project structures.

Gemini CLI is completely open source under the Apache 2.0 license, meaning developers can inspect the codebase, contribute improvements, and maybe even brag one day about contributing to a Google-backed project.

However, in typical Google fashion, these incredibly generous free-tier offerings might not last forever. Now is the time to act—grab this opportunity while it’s hot. The early adopters will reap the most benefits.

What Can You Do with the Gemini CLI?

You can use Gemini CLI to:

✅ Build and analyze websites, detect code issues
✅ Automate backend workflows like file handling, data processing, JSON manipulation, or database tasks
✅ Generate Markdown content, reports, or personal blog posts
✅ Call Google APIs to search and retrieve the latest information
✅ Teach Gemini to remember your frequently used code snippets or tasks
✅ Suggest prompts and create visual content for social media

Unlock powerful workflows with a single command line.

How to Install Gemini CLI – A Quick and Easy Guide

We’ll walk you through how to install Gemini CLI and take full advantage of this powerful tool—without breaking a sweat.

Why I Recommend ServBay

Gemini CLI requires Node.js version 18 or later, and ServBay is a great choice to set up your development environment quickly and efficiently.

1. Download and install ServBay from the https://www.servbay.com.
2. In the left-hand menu, click on “Packages”, select Node.js, then install your preferred version.
   💡 Make sure to choose Node.js version 18 or higher.

3. Once installed, open your terminal and verify that Node.js is ready to go.

Quick Gemini CLI Installation

Once your environment is ready, installing Gemini CLI takes just a minute. Simply open your terminal and run:

npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli

• Choose a theme color you like.

• Authenticate using your personal Google account.

• Wait a moment while the setup completes.

That’s it—you’re now ready to use Gemini CLI. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes and is beginner-friendly.

Optional: Use an API Key

If you plan to use a specific model or need a higher usage quota, you can authenticate with an API key:

export GEMINI_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

🔥 Standout Features That Make Gemini CLI a Game-Changer

Unlock the Power of Gemini 2.5 Pro
Enjoy up to 1,000 free requests per day and 60 requests per minute, giving you seamless access to advanced capabilities.

Massive Context Window – Up to 1 Million Tokens
Handle larger tasks with ease—5x the context size of Claude 3 Opus and GPT-4 Turbo.

Natural Language Coding & Task Support
Debug code, analyze scripts, convert languages, and even generate HTML/CSS UI/UX—all via intuitive commands like /tools, /memory, and /mcp for saving and managing custom context.

Smart Memory That Actually Remembers
With built-in memory, Gemini can retain your instructions—just say “remember this,” similar to ChatGPT’s memory feature.

Real-Time Web Search & Live Knowledge Updates
Powered by Google Search integration, Gemini grounds its responses with up-to-date web data, including names, events, and fresh insights.

Cross-Platform Support: Code, Media, and Data
From generating images via Imagen to producing videos with Veo (gradually rolling out), Gemini CLI supports powerful media tasks. It can run locally or integrate via API through AI Studio and Vertex AI.

Quick Comparison: Gemini CLI vs. Other Tools

Feature	Gemini CLI	Claude Code CLI	Cursor AI (VSCode)
Natural Language	✅ Supported	✅ Supported	✅ Supported
Context Tokens	🟢 Up to 1M tokens	🟡 ~200k tokens	🔴 Limited
Free Tier	✅ 1000 req/day	❌ Low limit	❌ Only 500 req/month
Media Support	✅ Images & Video (Imagen/Veo)	❌ Not supported	❌ Not supported
VSCode Integration	✅ Extension available	❌ Not available	✅ Built-in platform
Open Source	✅ Apache 2.0 Licensed	❌ Closed source	❌ Closed source

Gemini CLI stands out with generous free usage, rich media capabilities, and open-source flexibility—ideal for power users and developers alike.

>>> Try Gemini AI chat

Conclusion

This time, Google has truly disrupted the game—obliterating the pricing floor entirely. While others are still debating how much AI development tools should cost, Google has moved into an entirely different league. This isn’t a price war—it’s an ecosystem battle.

Open source, free, and extremely generous usage limits—how can anyone compete with that? It’s a game-changer, and only a tech giant with deep pockets like Google could pull it off.

For developers, this is fantastic news. Take advantage of Google’s generous offering—use ServBay to set up your environment with just one click and start exploring this incredible free tool.

What other AI companies think doesn’t really matter. As developers, we go where the tools are good, affordable, and easy to use.

After all, when Google gives you access to Gemini 2.5 Pro right from your terminal—for free—why pay for anything else?