How do I install the Gemini CLI skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add x-zero-l/gemini-cli in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Gemini CLI safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Gemini CLI?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Gemini CLI free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Gemini CLI?

x-zero-l (@x-zero-l) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Gemini CLI by x-zero-l — Agent Skill

Name: Gemini CLI
Author: x-zero-l

Gemini CLI

Ask Gemini via the local `gemini` CLI (no MCP). Use when the user says "ask gemini" / "use gemini", wants a second opinion, needs large-context `@path` analysis, sandbox runs, or structured change-mode edits.

x-zero-l c44aea7 2 files · 23.6 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Gemini CLI Skill

Use Google’s gemini CLI as an external “second brain” when you need a very large context window, a second opinion, or safe sandbox execution. This skill does not use MCP; it runs the local CLI directly.

When To Use

Use this skill when the user asks to:

“Ask Gemini” / “Use Gemini”
Analyze or summarize large files or directories (especially with @path references)
Brainstorm options with a specific framework (SCAMPER, design thinking, etc.)
Generate structured edit suggestions (“change mode”) that can be applied deterministically

Prerequisites

gemini CLI is installed and configured (e.g. gemini --version works)
You are allowed to run local shell commands in this environment
For sandbox execution, Gemini CLI supports -s/--sandbox (see gemini --help)

Core Commands

One-shot query (plain)

gemini "Explain what this code does: @src/main.ts"

Choose a model

gemini -m gemini-3-pro-preview "..."
gemini -m gemini-3-flash-preview "..."

Sandbox mode

gemini -s "Safely test @scripts/example.py and explain the results."

Helper Script (Recommended)

This skill ships with a dependency-free wrapper that mirrors the core behavior of gemini-mcp-tool without MCP:

skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs

Important: Gemini CLI can only read files under its current “project directory” (typically the process working directory). Run the wrapper from the repo you want Gemini to read, or pass --cwd.

node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs help

Ask Gemini (wrapper)

node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --prompt "Summarize @. in 5 bullets."
node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --cwd /path/to/project --prompt "Summarize @. in 5 bullets."
node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --prompt "..." --model gemini-3-pro-preview
node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --prompt "..." --sandbox

Brainstorm (wrapper)

node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs brainstorm --prompt "How should we design onboarding?" --methodology scamper --ideaCount 12

Change Mode (structured edits + chunk caching)

Use change mode when you want Gemini to output deterministic OLD/NEW blocks that can be applied by exact string matching.

node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --changeMode --prompt "In @src/foo.ts, rename Foo to Bar and update call sites."

If the response is chunked, the output includes a cacheKey. Fetch the next chunk:

node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs fetch-chunk --cacheKey <key> --chunkIndex 2

Safety Rules

Never execute destructive commands from Gemini output without explicit user approval.
In change mode, the OLD block must match the file content exactly; otherwise, do not apply the edit.
Prefer read-only analysis unless the user explicitly requests changes.

---name: gemini-clidescription: Ask Gemini via the local `gemini` CLI (no MCP). Use when the user says "ask gemini" / "use gemini", wants a second opinion, needs large-context `@path` analysis, sandbox runs, or structured change-mode edits.---# Gemini CLI SkillUse Google’s `gemini` CLI as an external “second brain” when you need a very large context window, a second opinion, or safe sandbox execution. This skill does **not** use MCP; it runs the local CLI directly.## When To UseUse this skill when the user asks to:- “Ask Gemini” / “Use Gemini”- Analyze or summarize large files or directories (especially with `@path` references)- Brainstorm options with a specific framework (SCAMPER, design thinking, etc.)- Generate structured edit suggestions (“change mode”) that can be applied deterministically## Prerequisites- `gemini` CLI is installed and configured (e.g. `gemini --version` works)- You are allowed to run local shell commands in this environment- For sandbox execution, Gemini CLI supports `-s/--sandbox` (see `gemini --help`)## Core Commands### One-shot query (plain)```bashgemini "Explain what this code does: @src/main.ts"```### Choose a model```bashgemini -m gemini-3-pro-preview "..."gemini -m gemini-3-flash-preview "..."```### Sandbox mode```bashgemini -s "Safely test @scripts/example.py and explain the results."```## Helper Script (Recommended)This skill ships with a dependency-free wrapper that mirrors the core behavior of `gemini-mcp-tool` without MCP:`skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs`Important: Gemini CLI can only read files under its current “project directory” (typically the process working directory). Run the wrapper from the repo you want Gemini to read, or pass `--cwd`.```bashnode skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs help```### Ask Gemini (wrapper)```bashnode skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --prompt "Summarize @. in 5 bullets."node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --cwd /path/to/project --prompt "Summarize @. in 5 bullets."node skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --prompt "..." --model gemini-3-pro-previewnode skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --prompt "..." --sandbox```### Brainstorm (wrapper)```bashnode skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs brainstorm --prompt "How should we design onboarding?" --methodology scamper --ideaCount 12```### Change Mode (structured edits + chunk caching)Use change mode when you want Gemini to output **deterministic** OLD/NEW blocks that can be applied by exact string matching.```bashnode skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs ask --changeMode --prompt "In @src/foo.ts, rename Foo to Bar and update call sites."```If the response is chunked, the output includes a `cacheKey`. Fetch the next chunk:```bashnode skills/gemini-cli/scripts/gemini-tool.mjs fetch-chunk --cacheKey <key> --chunkIndex 2```## Safety Rules- Never execute destructive commands from Gemini output without explicit user approval.- In change mode, the `OLD` block must match the file content **exactly**; otherwise, do not apply the edit.- Prefer read-only analysis unless the user explicitly requests changes.

Frequently asked questions