Gemini CLI

Gemini CLI

Leverage Gemini's 1M+ context window as your AI pair programmer within Claude Code workflows.

This skill teaches Claude Code how to use the official Google Gemini CLI (gemini command) to get second opinions, architectural advice, debugging help, and comprehensive code reviews. Based on production testing with the official CLI tool.

Table of Contents

1. Quick Start
2. When to Use Gemini Consultation
3. Installation
4. Using Gemini CLI
5. Model Selection: Flash vs Pro
6. Proactive Consultation Patterns
7. AI-to-AI Prompting Best Practices
8. Common Use Cases
9. Integration Examples
10. Troubleshooting & Known Issues

Quick Start

Prerequisites:

• Gemini CLI installed (npm install -g @google/gemini-cli)
• Authenticated with Google account (run gemini once to authenticate)

Basic Usage Patterns:

# Quick question (non-interactive with -p flag)
gemini -p "Should I use D1 or KV for session storage?"

# Code review with file context (using --all-files)
gemini --all-files -p "Review this auth implementation for security issues"

# Architecture advice using Pro model
gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Best way to handle WebSockets in Cloudflare Workers?"

# Pipe file content for review
cat src/auth.ts | gemini -p "Review this authentication code for security vulnerabilities"

# Interactive mode for follow-up questions
gemini -i "Help me debug this authentication error"

When to Use Gemini Consultation

ALWAYS Consult (Critical Scenarios)

Claude Code should automatically invoke Gemini in these situations:

1. Major Architectural Decisions

   • Example: "Should I use D1 or KV for session storage?"
   • Example: "Durable Objects vs Workflows for long-running tasks?"
   • Why: Gemini provides complementary perspective, may prioritize different concerns
   • Pattern: gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "[architectural question]"

2. Security-Sensitive Code Changes

   • Authentication systems
   • Payment processing
   • Data handling (PII, sensitive data)
   • API key/secret management
   • Why: Gemini 2.5 Pro excels at security audits
   • Pattern: cat [security-file] | gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Security audit this code"

3. Large Refactors

   • Affecting 5+ files
   • Core architecture changes
   • Database schema migrations
   • Why: Fresh perspective prevents tunnel vision
   • Pattern: gemini --all-files -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Review this refactoring plan"

4. Stuck Debugging (2+ Failed Attempts)

   • Error persists after 2 debugging attempts
   • Stack trace unclear
   • Intermittent bugs
   • Why: Different reasoning approach may spot root cause
   • Pattern: gemini -p "Help debug: [error message]" < error.log

5. Context Window Pressure (70%+ Full)

   • Approaching token limit
   • Need to offload analysis to Gemini
   • Why: Gemini's 1M context can handle large code files
   • Pattern: cat large-file.ts | gemini -p "Analyze this code structure"

OPTIONALLY Consult

6. Unfamiliar Technology

   • Using library/framework for first time
   • Experimenting with new patterns
   • Why: Gemini may have more recent training data
   • Pattern: gemini -p "Best practices for [new technology]"

7. Code Reviews

   • Before committing major changes
   • Pull request preparation
   • Why: Catches edge cases and improvements
   • Pattern: git diff | gemini -p "Review these changes"

Installation

1. Install Gemini CLI

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

2. Authenticate

gemini

Follow the authentication prompts to link your Google account.

3. Verify Installation

gemini --version

Should show version 0.13.0 or higher.

4. Test Connection

gemini -p "What is 2+2?"

Using Gemini CLI

Core Command Patterns

Non-Interactive Mode (-p flag)

Best for Claude Code integration:

# Direct question
gemini -p "Your question here"

# With model selection
gemini -m gemini-2.5-flash -p "Quick debugging question"
gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Complex architectural decision"

# With file context via pipe
cat src/auth.ts | gemini -p "Review this code"

# With all files in current directory
gemini --all-files -p "Analyze project structure"

# With stdin input
echo "Error: Cannot connect to database" | gemini -p "Help debug this error"

Interactive Mode (-i flag)

For follow-up conversations:

# Start interactive session with initial prompt
gemini -i "Let's discuss the architecture"

# Interactive with model selection
gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -i "Help me design a database schema"

YOLO Mode (-y flag)

Auto-accepts all actions (use with caution):

# Dangerous: Auto-executes suggested commands
gemini -y -p "Fix all linting errors"

⚠️ Warning: YOLO mode can execute commands without confirmation. Only use in trusted environments.

Model Selection: Flash vs Pro

gemini-2.5-flash (Default)

Characteristics:

• Fast response time: ~5-25 seconds
• Good quality for most tasks
• Lower cost
• Safe for general questions

Use For:

• Code reviews
• Debugging
• General questions
• Quick consultations
• When speed matters

Example:

gemini -m gemini-2.5-flash -p "Review this function for performance issues"

gemini-2.5-pro

Characteristics:

• Response time: ~15-30 seconds
• Excellent quality, thorough analysis
• Higher cost
• Best for critical decisions

Use For:

• Architecture decisions (critical)
• Security audits (thorough)
• Complex reasoning tasks
• Major refactoring plans
• When accuracy > speed

Example:

gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Security audit this authentication system"

gemini-3-pro-preview (Preview - November 2025)

Characteristics:

• Google's newest and most intelligent AI model (announced Nov 18, 2025)
• State-of-the-art reasoning and multimodal understanding
• Outperforms Gemini 2.5 Pro on every major AI benchmark
• Supports text, image, video, audio, and PDF inputs
• Response time: TBD (in testing)
• Higher cost (preview pricing)

Use For:

• Most complex reasoning tasks requiring deep analysis
• Critical architectural decisions on cutting-edge projects
• Advanced multimodal analysis (diagrams, videos, complex docs)
• Benchmark-critical applications
• When absolute best quality is required (and cost is secondary)

Example:

gemini -m gemini-3-pro-preview -p "Deep architectural analysis of this distributed system"
cat architecture-diagram.png | gemini -m gemini-3-pro-preview -p "Analyze this system design"

⚠️ Preview Status: Model is in preview. For production-critical decisions, consider using gemini-2.5-pro (stable) until Gemini 3 reaches general availability.

How to Choose

Quick question? → Flash
Security/architecture? → 3-Pro-Preview (cutting-edge) or 2.5-Pro (stable)
Debugging? → Flash (try Pro if stuck)
Code review? → Flash
Refactoring 5+ files? → 3-Pro-Preview or 2.5-Pro
Multimodal analysis? → 3-Pro-Preview

Proactive Consultation Patterns

Pattern 1: Architecture Decision

Trigger: User asks about technology choice Claude Action: Automatically consult Gemini for second opinion

# Claude runs:
gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Compare D1 vs KV for session storage in Cloudflare Workers. Consider: read/write patterns, cost, performance, complexity."

# Then synthesizes both perspectives

Pattern 2: Security Review

Trigger: Working on auth/payment/sensitive code Claude Action: Request Gemini security audit

# Claude runs:
cat src/auth/verify-token.ts | gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Security audit this authentication code. Check for: token validation, timing attacks, injection vulnerabilities, error handling."

Pattern 3: Debugging Assistance

Trigger: Error persists after 2 attempts Claude Action: Get Gemini's perspective

# Claude runs:
echo "[error message and stack trace]" | gemini -p "Help debug this error. What's the likely root cause?"

Pattern 4: Code Review

Trigger: Major changes ready to commit Claude Action: Request comprehensive review

# Claude runs:
git diff HEAD | gemini --all-files -p "Review these changes for: correctness, edge cases, performance, security, best practices."

AI-to-AI Prompting Best Practices

How Claude Should Format Prompts to Gemini

✅ GOOD: Context-Rich, Specific

gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "I'm building a Cloudflare Worker with user authentication. Should I use D1 or KV for storing session data? Consider: 1) Session reads on every request, 2) TTL-based expiration, 3) Cost under 10M requests/month, 4) Deployment complexity."

❌ BAD: Vague, No Context

gemini -p "D1 or KV?"

Prompt Structure Template

[Context: What you're building]
[Question]
[Considerations: Key factors (numbered)]

Example: Architecture Decision

gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "
Context: Building a real-time collaborative editing app on Cloudflare Workers.

Question: Should I use Durable Objects or Workflows for managing document state?

Considerations:
1. Need to handle WebSocket connections (100+ simultaneous users per document)
2. Document state must be consistent across all clients
3. Need to persist changes every 5 seconds
4. Budget: <\$100/month at 1000 documents
5. Simple deployment preferred
"

Common Use Cases

1. Technology Selection

# Compare two technologies
gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Compare Drizzle ORM vs raw SQL for Cloudflare D1. Consider: type safety, performance, query complexity, bundle size."

2. Security Audit

# Audit authentication code
cat src/middleware/auth.ts | gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "
Security audit this authentication middleware. Check for:
1. Token validation vulnerabilities
2. Timing attack risks
3. Error handling leaks
4. CSRF protection
5. Rate limiting
"

3. Debugging Root Cause

# Analyze error logs
tail -100 error.log | gemini -p "
These errors started appearing after deploying auth changes. What's the likely root cause?

Context:
- Added JWT validation middleware
- Using @cloudflare/workers-jwt
- Errors only on /api/* routes
"

4. Code Review

# Review pull request changes
git diff main...feature-branch | gemini --all-files -p "
Review this pull request. Focus on:
1. Breaking changes
2. Edge cases not handled
3. Performance implications
4. Security concerns
"

5. Refactoring Plan

# Plan large refactor
gemini --all-files -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "
I want to refactor this Express app to Cloudflare Workers with Hono. Analyze the codebase and suggest:
1. Migration order (which routes first)
2. Potential blockers (middleware that won't work)
3. Testing strategy
4. Deployment plan
"

6. Performance Optimization

# Analyze performance
cat src/api/heavy-endpoint.ts | gemini -p "
This endpoint is slow (500ms+ response time). Identify performance bottlenecks and suggest optimizations.

Context:
- Cloudflare Worker
- Fetches data from 3 external APIs
- Processes 1000+ items
"

Integration Examples

Example 1: Claude Consulting Gemini Automatically

Scenario: User asks architectural question

User: "Should I use D1 or KV for storing user sessions?"

Claude (internal): This is an architectural decision. Consult Gemini for second opinion.

[Runs: gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Compare D1 vs KV for user session storage in Cloudflare Workers..."]

Claude (to user): "I've consulted Gemini for a second opinion. Here's what we both think:

My perspective: [Claude's analysis]
Gemini's perspective: [Gemini's analysis]

Key differences: [synthesis]
Recommendation: [combined recommendation]"

Example 2: Security Review Before Commit

User: "Ready to commit these auth changes"

Claude (internal): Security-sensitive code. Request Gemini audit.

[Runs: cat src/auth/*.ts | gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Security audit..."]

Claude (to user): "I've reviewed the code and consulted Gemini for security concerns:

Gemini identified: [security issues]
Additional checks I recommend: [Claude's additions]

Safe to commit after addressing: [list]"

Example 3: Debugging Assistance

User: "Still getting this error after trying your suggestions: [error]"

Claude (internal): Two failed attempts. Consult Gemini for fresh perspective.

[Runs: echo "[error details]" | gemini -p "Help debug..."]

Claude (to user): "Let me get a second opinion from Gemini...

Gemini suggests: [Gemini's diagnosis]
This makes sense because: [Claude's analysis]
Let's try: [combined solution]"

Troubleshooting & Known Issues

Issue 1: Not Authenticated

Error: Error: Not authenticated

Solution:

gemini
# Follow authentication prompts

Issue 2: Model Not Found

Error: Error: Model not found: gemini-2.5-flash-lite

Cause: Model deprecated or renamed

Solution:

# Use stable models
gemini -m gemini-2.5-flash -p "Your question"
gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "Your question"

Issue 3: Rate Limit

Error: Error: Rate limit exceeded

Solution: Wait 1-5 minutes, then retry

Prevention: Space out requests

Issue 4: Large File Context

Error: File too large for context

Solution: Use --all-files carefully or pipe specific sections

# Instead of:
gemini --all-files -p "Review everything"

# Do:
cat src/specific-file.ts | gemini -p "Review this file"

Issue 5: Command Hangs

Cause: Interactive mode when expecting non-interactive

Solution: Always use -p flag for non-interactive commands

# ✅ Correct
gemini -p "Question"

# ❌ Wrong (will hang waiting for input)
gemini "Question"

Production Best Practices

1. Always Use -p for Automation

# ✅ Good for scripts
gemini -p "Question"

# ❌ Bad for scripts (interactive)
gemini

2. Select Model Based on Criticality

# Architecture/security → Pro
gemini -m gemini-2.5-pro -p "[critical question]"

# Debugging/review → Flash
gemini -m gemini-2.5-flash -p "[general question]"

3. Provide Context in Prompts

# ✅ Good
gemini -p "Context: Building Cloudflare Worker. Question: Best auth pattern? Considerations: 1) Stateless, 2) JWT, 3) <100ms overhead"

# ❌ Bad
gemini -p "Best auth?"

4. Pipe File Content for Reviews

# ✅ Good
cat src/auth.ts | gemini -p "Review for security"

# ❌ Inefficient
gemini -p "Review src/auth.ts" # Gemini has to read file separately

5. Handle Errors Gracefully

# Add error handling
if output=$(gemini -p "Question" 2>&1); then
  echo "Gemini says: $output"
else
  echo "Gemini consultation failed, proceeding with Claude's recommendation"
fi

6. Synthesize, Don't Just Forward

❌ BAD: Just paste Gemini's response

User: "Should I use D1?"
Claude: [runs gemini] "Gemini says: [paste]"

✅ GOOD: Synthesize both perspectives

User: "Should I use D1?"
Claude: [runs gemini]
"I've consulted Gemini for a second opinion:

My analysis: [Claude's perspective]
Gemini's analysis: [Gemini's perspective]
Key differences: [synthesis]
Recommendation: [unified answer]"

Version History

2.1.0 (2025-11-19):

• Added Gemini 3 Pro Preview model (gemini-3-pro-preview)
• Updated model selection guidance for Gemini 3
• Added multimodal analysis use cases
• Updated model comparison matrix

2.0.0 (2025-11-13):

• Complete rewrite for official Gemini CLI (removed gemini-coach wrapper)
• Direct CLI integration patterns
• Simplified to core use cases
• Updated command examples for gemini CLI v0.13.0+

1.0.0 (2025-11-08):

• Initial release with gemini-coach wrapper
• Production testing and experimentation
• 8+ documented errors prevented

Related Skills

• google-gemini-api - Gemini API integration via SDK
• google-gemini-embeddings - Gemini embeddings for RAG
• google-gemini-file-search - Managed RAG with Gemini

License

MIT - See LICENSE

Support

• Issues: https://github.com/jezweb/claude-skills/issues
• Email: jeremy@jezweb.net
• Official Gemini CLI: https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli