docs: Remove redundant and duplicate documentation files (#14699)

Co-authored-by: Liqiong Zheng <laceyzheng2017@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Tommaso Sciortino <sciortino@gmail.com>
This commit is contained in:
Liqiong Zheng
2026-01-08 15:07:45 -08:00
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parent e51f3e11f1
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# Gemini CLI configuration
Gemini CLI offers several ways to configure its behavior, including environment
variables, command-line arguments, and settings files. This document outlines
the different configuration methods and available settings.
## Configuration layers
Configuration is applied in the following order of precedence (lower numbers are
overridden by higher numbers):
1. **Default values:** Hardcoded defaults within the application.
2. **User settings file:** Global settings for the current user.
3. **Project settings file:** Project-specific settings.
4. **System settings file:** System-wide settings.
5. **Environment variables:** System-wide or session-specific variables,
potentially loaded from `.env` files.
6. **Command-line arguments:** Values passed when launching the CLI.
## Settings files
Gemini CLI uses `settings.json` files for persistent configuration. There are
three locations for these files:
- **User settings file:**
- **Location:** `~/.gemini/settings.json` (where `~` is your home directory).
- **Scope:** Applies to all Gemini CLI sessions for the current user.
- **Project settings file:**
- **Location:** `.gemini/settings.json` within your project's root directory.
- **Scope:** Applies only when running Gemini CLI from that specific project.
Project settings override user settings.
- **System settings file:**
- **Location:** `/etc/gemini-cli/settings.json` (Linux),
`C:\ProgramData\gemini-cli\settings.json` (Windows) or
`/Library/Application Support/GeminiCli/settings.json` (macOS). The path can
be overridden using the `GEMINI_CLI_SYSTEM_SETTINGS_PATH` environment
variable.
- **Scope:** Applies to all Gemini CLI sessions on the system, for all users.
System settings override user and project settings. May be useful for system
administrators at enterprises to have controls over users' Gemini CLI
setups.
**Note on environment variables in settings:** String values within your
`settings.json` files can reference environment variables using either
`$VAR_NAME` or `${VAR_NAME}` syntax. These variables will be automatically
resolved when the settings are loaded. For example, if you have an environment
variable `MY_API_TOKEN`, you could use it in `settings.json` like this:
`"apiKey": "$MY_API_TOKEN"`.
### The `.gemini` directory in your project
In addition to a project settings file, a project's `.gemini` directory can
contain other project-specific files related to Gemini CLI's operation, such as:
- [Custom sandbox profiles](#sandboxing) (e.g.,
`.gemini/sandbox-macos-custom.sb`, `.gemini/sandbox.Dockerfile`).
### Available settings in `settings.json`:
- **`contextFileName`** (string or array of strings):
- **Description:** Specifies the filename for context files (e.g.,
`GEMINI.md`, `AGENTS.md`). Can be a single filename or a list of accepted
filenames.
- **Default:** `GEMINI.md`
- **Example:** `"contextFileName": "AGENTS.md"`
- **`bugCommand`** (object):
- **Description:** Overrides the default URL for the `/bug` command.
- **Default:**
`"urlTemplate": "https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/issues/new?template=bug_report.yml&title={title}&info={info}"`
- **Properties:**
- **`urlTemplate`** (string): A URL that can contain `{title}` and `{info}`
placeholders.
- **Example:**
```json
"bugCommand": {
"urlTemplate": "https://bug.example.com/new?title={title}&info={info}"
}
```
- **`fileFiltering`** (object):
- **Description:** Controls git-aware file filtering behavior for @ commands
and file discovery tools.
- **Default:** `"respectGitIgnore": true, "enableRecursiveFileSearch": true`
- **Properties:**
- **`respectGitIgnore`** (boolean): Whether to respect .gitignore patterns
when discovering files. When set to `true`, git-ignored files (like
`node_modules/`, `dist/`, `.env`) are automatically excluded from @
commands and file listing operations.
- **`enableRecursiveFileSearch`** (boolean): Whether to enable searching
recursively for filenames under the current tree when completing @
prefixes in the prompt.
- **Example:**
```json
"fileFiltering": {
"respectGitIgnore": true,
"enableRecursiveFileSearch": false
}
```
- **`coreTools`** (array of strings):
- **Description:** Allows you to specify a list of core tool names that should
be made available to the model. This can be used to restrict the set of
built-in tools. See [Built-in Tools](../core/tools-api.md#built-in-tools)
for a list of core tools. You can also specify command-specific restrictions
for tools that support it, like the `ShellTool`. For example,
`"coreTools": ["ShellTool(ls -l)"]` will only allow the `ls -l` command to
be executed.
- **Default:** All tools available for use by the Gemini model.
- **Example:** `"coreTools": ["ReadFileTool", "GlobTool", "ShellTool(ls)"]`.
- **`excludeTools`** (array of strings):
- **Description:** Allows you to specify a list of core tool names that should
be excluded from the model. A tool listed in both `excludeTools` and
`coreTools` is excluded. You can also specify command-specific restrictions
for tools that support it, like the `ShellTool`. For example,
`"excludeTools": ["ShellTool(rm -rf)"]` will block the `rm -rf` command.
- **Default**: No tools excluded.
- **Example:** `"excludeTools": ["run_shell_command", "findFiles"]`.
- **Security Note:** Command-specific restrictions in `excludeTools` for
`run_shell_command` are based on simple string matching and can be easily
bypassed. This feature is **not a security mechanism** and should not be
relied upon to safely execute untrusted code. It is recommended to use
`coreTools` to explicitly select commands that can be executed.
- **`allowMCPServers`** (array of strings):
- **Description:** Allows you to specify a list of MCP server names that
should be made available to the model. This can be used to restrict the set
of MCP servers to connect to. Note that this will be ignored if
`--allowed-mcp-server-names` is set.
- **Default:** All MCP servers are available for use by the Gemini model.
- **Example:** `"allowMCPServers": ["myPythonServer"]`.
- **Security Note:** This uses simple string matching on MCP server names,
which can be modified. If you're a system administrator looking to prevent
users from bypassing this, consider configuring the `mcpServers` at the
system settings level such that the user will not be able to configure any
MCP servers of their own. This should not be used as an airtight security
mechanism.
- **`excludeMCPServers`** (array of strings):
- **Description:** Allows you to specify a list of MCP server names that
should be excluded from the model. A server listed in both
`excludeMCPServers` and `allowMCPServers` is excluded. Note that this will
be ignored if `--allowed-mcp-server-names` is set.
- **Default**: No MCP servers excluded.
- **Example:** `"excludeMCPServers": ["myNodeServer"]`.
- **Security note:** This uses simple string matching on MCP server names,
which can be modified. If you're a system administrator looking to prevent
users from bypassing this, consider configuring the `mcpServers` at the
system settings level such that the user will not be able to configure any
MCP servers of their own. This should not be used as an airtight security
mechanism.
- **`autoAccept`** (boolean):
- **Description:** Controls whether the CLI automatically accepts and executes
tool calls that are considered safe (e.g., read-only operations) without
explicit user confirmation. If set to `true`, the CLI will bypass the
confirmation prompt for tools deemed safe.
- **Default:** `false`
- **Example:** `"autoAccept": true`
- **`theme`** (string):
- **Description:** Sets the visual [theme](./themes.md) for Gemini CLI.
- **Default:** `"Default"`
- **Example:** `"theme": "GitHub"`
- **`vimMode`** (boolean):
- **Description:** Enables or disables vim mode for input editing. When
enabled, the input area supports vim-style navigation and editing commands
with NORMAL and INSERT modes. The vim mode status is displayed in the footer
and persists between sessions.
- **Default:** `false`
- **Example:** `"vimMode": true`
- **`sandbox`** (boolean or string):
- **Description:** Controls whether and how to use sandboxing for tool
execution. If set to `true`, Gemini CLI uses a pre-built
`gemini-cli-sandbox` Docker image. For more information, see
[Sandboxing](#sandboxing).
- **Default:** `false`
- **Example:** `"sandbox": "docker"`
- **`toolDiscoveryCommand`** (string):
- **Description:** Defines a custom shell command for discovering tools from
your project. The shell command must return on `stdout` a JSON array of
[function declarations](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/function-calling#function-declarations).
Tool wrappers are optional.
- **Default:** Empty
- **Example:** `"toolDiscoveryCommand": "bin/get_tools"`
- **`toolCallCommand`** (string):
- **Description:** Defines a custom shell command for calling a specific tool
that was discovered using `toolDiscoveryCommand`. The shell command must
meet the following criteria:
- It must take function `name` (exactly as in
[function declaration](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/function-calling#function-declarations))
as first command line argument.
- It must read function arguments as JSON on `stdin`, analogous to
[`functionCall.args`](https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/model-reference/inference#functioncall).
- It must return function output as JSON on `stdout`, analogous to
[`functionResponse.response.content`](https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/model-reference/inference#functionresponse).
- **Default:** Empty
- **Example:** `"toolCallCommand": "bin/call_tool"`
- **`mcpServers`** (object):
- **Description:** Configures connections to one or more Model-Context
Protocol (MCP) servers for discovering and using custom tools. Gemini CLI
attempts to connect to each configured MCP server to discover available
tools. If multiple MCP servers expose a tool with the same name, the tool
names will be prefixed with the server alias you defined in the
configuration (e.g., `serverAlias__actualToolName`) to avoid conflicts. Note
that the system might strip certain schema properties from MCP tool
definitions for compatibility.
- **Default:** Empty
- **Properties:**
- **`<SERVER_NAME>`** (object): The server parameters for the named server.
- `command` (string, required): The command to execute to start the MCP
server.
- `args` (array of strings, optional): Arguments to pass to the command.
- `env` (object, optional): Environment variables to set for the server
process.
- `cwd` (string, optional): The working directory in which to start the
server.
- `timeout` (number, optional): Timeout in milliseconds for requests to
this MCP server.
- `trust` (boolean, optional): Trust this server and bypass all tool call
confirmations.
- `includeTools` (array of strings, optional): List of tool names to
include from this MCP server. When specified, only the tools listed here
will be available from this server (whitelist behavior). If not
specified, all tools from the server are enabled by default.
- `excludeTools` (array of strings, optional): List of tool names to
exclude from this MCP server. Tools listed here will not be available to
the model, even if they are exposed by the server. **Note:**
`excludeTools` takes precedence over `includeTools` - if a tool is in
both lists, it will be excluded.
- **Example:**
```json
"mcpServers": {
"myPythonServer": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["mcp_server.py", "--port", "8080"],
"cwd": "./mcp_tools/python",
"timeout": 5000,
"includeTools": ["safe_tool", "file_reader"],
},
"myNodeServer": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["mcp_server.js"],
"cwd": "./mcp_tools/node",
"excludeTools": ["dangerous_tool", "file_deleter"]
},
"myDockerServer": {
"command": "docker",
"args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "-e", "API_KEY", "ghcr.io/foo/bar"],
"env": {
"API_KEY": "$MY_API_TOKEN"
}
}
}
```
- **`checkpointing`** (object):
- **Description:** Configures the checkpointing feature, which allows you to
save and restore conversation and file states. See the
[Checkpointing documentation](./checkpointing.md) for more details.
- **Default:** `{"enabled": false}`
- **Properties:**
- **`enabled`** (boolean): When `true`, the `/restore` command is available.
- **`preferredEditor`** (string):
- **Description:** Specifies the preferred editor to use for viewing diffs.
- **Default:** `vscode`
- **Example:** `"preferredEditor": "vscode"`
- **`telemetry`** (object)
- **Description:** Configures logging and metrics collection for Gemini CLI.
For more information, see [Telemetry](./telemetry.md).
- **Default:**
`{"enabled": false, "target": "local", "otlpEndpoint": "http://localhost:4317", "logPrompts": true}`
- **Properties:**
- **`enabled`** (boolean): Whether or not telemetry is enabled.
- **`target`** (string): The destination for collected telemetry. Supported
values are `local` and `gcp`.
- **`otlpEndpoint`** (string): The endpoint for the OTLP Exporter.
- **`logPrompts`** (boolean): Whether or not to include the content of user
prompts in the logs.
- **Example:**
```json
"telemetry": {
"enabled": true,
"target": "local",
"otlpEndpoint": "http://localhost:16686",
"logPrompts": false
}
```
- **`usageStatisticsEnabled`** (boolean):
- **Description:** Enables or disables the collection of usage statistics. See
[Usage Statistics](#usage-statistics) for more information.
- **Default:** `true`
- **Example:**
```json
"usageStatisticsEnabled": false
```
- **`hideTips`** (boolean):
- **Description:** Enables or disables helpful tips in the CLI interface.
- **Default:** `false`
- **Example:**
```json
"hideTips": true
```
- **`hideBanner`** (boolean):
- **Description:** Enables or disables the startup banner (ASCII art logo) in
the CLI interface.
- **Default:** `false`
- **Example:**
```json
"hideBanner": true
```
- **`maxSessionTurns`** (number):
- **Description:** Sets the maximum number of turns for a session. If the
session exceeds this limit, the CLI will stop processing and start a new
chat.
- **Default:** `-1` (unlimited)
- **Example:**
```json
"maxSessionTurns": 10
```
- **`summarizeToolOutput`** (object):
- **Description:** Enables or disables the summarization of tool output. You
can specify the token budget for the summarization using the `tokenBudget`
setting.
- Note: Currently only the `run_shell_command` tool is supported.
- **Default:** `{}` (Disabled by default)
- **Example:**
```json
"summarizeToolOutput": {
"run_shell_command": {
"tokenBudget": 2000
}
}
```
- **`excludedProjectEnvVars`** (array of strings):
- **Description:** Specifies environment variables that should be excluded
from being loaded from project `.env` files. This prevents project-specific
environment variables (like `DEBUG=true`) from interfering with gemini-cli
behavior. Variables from `.gemini/.env` files are never excluded.
- **Default:** `["DEBUG", "DEBUG_MODE"]`
- **Example:**
```json
"excludedProjectEnvVars": ["DEBUG", "DEBUG_MODE", "NODE_ENV"]
```
- **`context.includeDirectories`** (array of strings):
- **Description:** Specifies an array of additional absolute or relative paths
to include in the workspace context. This allows you to work with files
across multiple directories as if they were one. Paths can use `~` to refer
to the user's home directory. This setting can be combined with the
`--include-directories` command-line flag.
- **Default:** `[]`
- **Example:**
```json
"context": {
"includeDirectories": [
"/path/to/another/project",
"../shared-library",
"~/common-utils"
]
}
```
- **`context.loadMemoryFromIncludeDirectories`** (boolean):
- **Description:** Controls the behavior of the `/memory refresh` command. If
set to `true`, `GEMINI.md` files should be loaded from all directories that
are added. If set to `false`, `GEMINI.md` should only be loaded from the
current directory.
- **Default:** `false`
- **Example:**
```json
"context": {
"loadMemoryFromIncludeDirectories": true
}
```
### Example `settings.json`:
```json
{
"theme": "GitHub",
"sandbox": "docker",
"toolDiscoveryCommand": "bin/get_tools",
"toolCallCommand": "bin/call_tool",
"mcpServers": {
"mainServer": {
"command": "bin/mcp_server.py"
},
"anotherServer": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["mcp_server.js", "--verbose"]
}
},
"telemetry": {
"enabled": true,
"target": "local",
"otlpEndpoint": "http://localhost:4317",
"logPrompts": true
},
"usageStatisticsEnabled": true,
"hideTips": false,
"hideBanner": false,
"maxSessionTurns": 10,
"summarizeToolOutput": {
"run_shell_command": {
"tokenBudget": 100
}
},
"excludedProjectEnvVars": ["DEBUG", "DEBUG_MODE", "NODE_ENV"],
"context": {
"includeDirectories": ["path/to/dir1", "~/path/to/dir2", "../path/to/dir3"],
"loadMemoryFromIncludeDirectories": true
}
}
```
## Shell history
The CLI keeps a history of shell commands you run. To avoid conflicts between
different projects, this history is stored in a project-specific directory
within your user's home folder.
- **Location:** `~/.gemini/tmp/<project_hash>/shell_history`
- `<project_hash>` is a unique identifier generated from your project's root
path.
- The history is stored in a file named `shell_history`.
## Environment variables and `.env` files
Environment variables are a common way to configure applications, especially for
sensitive information like API keys or for settings that might change between
environments.
The CLI automatically loads environment variables from an `.env` file. The
loading order is:
1. `.env` file in the current working directory.
2. If not found, it searches upwards in parent directories until it finds an
`.env` file or reaches the project root (identified by a `.git` folder) or
the home directory.
3. If still not found, it looks for `~/.env` (in the user's home directory).
**Environment variable exclusion:** Some environment variables (like `DEBUG` and
`DEBUG_MODE`) are automatically excluded from being loaded from project `.env`
files to prevent interference with gemini-cli behavior. Variables from
`.gemini/.env` files are never excluded. You can customize this behavior using
the `excludedProjectEnvVars` setting in your `settings.json` file.
- **`GEMINI_API_KEY`** (Required):
- Your API key for the Gemini API.
- **Crucial for operation.** The CLI will not function without it.
- Set this in your shell profile (e.g., `~/.bashrc`, `~/.zshrc`) or an `.env`
file.
- **`GEMINI_MODEL`**:
- Specifies the default Gemini model to use.
- Overrides the hardcoded default
- Example: `export GEMINI_MODEL="gemini-2.5-flash"`
- **`GEMINI_CLI_CUSTOM_HEADERS`**:
- Adds extra HTTP headers to Gemini API and Code Assist requests.
- Accepts a comma-separated list of `Name: value` pairs.
- Example:
`export GEMINI_CLI_CUSTOM_HEADERS="X-My-Header: foo, X-Trace-ID: abc123"`.
- **`GEMINI_API_KEY_AUTH_MECHANISM`**:
- Specifies how the API key should be sent for authentication when using
`AuthType.USE_GEMINI` or `AuthType.USE_VERTEX_AI`.
- Valid values are `x-goog-api-key` (default) or `bearer`.
- If set to `bearer`, the API key will be sent in the
`Authorization: Bearer <key>` header.
- Example: `export GEMINI_API_KEY_AUTH_MECHANISM="bearer"`
- **`GOOGLE_API_KEY`**:
- Your Google Cloud API key.
- Required for using Vertex AI in express mode.
- Ensure you have the necessary permissions.
- Example: `export GOOGLE_API_KEY="YOUR_GOOGLE_API_KEY"`.
- **`GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT`**:
- Your Google Cloud Project ID.
- Required for using Code Assist or Vertex AI.
- If using Vertex AI, ensure you have the necessary permissions in this
project.
- **Cloud shell note:** When running in a Cloud Shell environment, this
variable defaults to a special project allocated for Cloud Shell users. If
you have `GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT` set in your global environment in Cloud
Shell, it will be overridden by this default. To use a different project in
Cloud Shell, you must define `GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT` in a `.env` file.
- Example: `export GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT="YOUR_PROJECT_ID"`.
- **`GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS`** (string):
- **Description:** The path to your Google Application Credentials JSON file.
- **Example:**
`export GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS="/path/to/your/credentials.json"`
- **`OTLP_GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT`**:
- Your Google Cloud Project ID for Telemetry in Google Cloud
- Example: `export OTLP_GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT="YOUR_PROJECT_ID"`.
- **`GOOGLE_CLOUD_LOCATION`**:
- Your Google Cloud Project Location (e.g., us-central1).
- Required for using Vertex AI in non express mode.
- Example: `export GOOGLE_CLOUD_LOCATION="YOUR_PROJECT_LOCATION"`.
- **`GEMINI_SANDBOX`**:
- Alternative to the `sandbox` setting in `settings.json`.
- Accepts `true`, `false`, `docker`, `podman`, or a custom command string.
- **`HTTP_PROXY` / `HTTPS_PROXY`**:
- Specifies the proxy server to use for outgoing HTTP/HTTPS requests.
- Example: `export HTTPS_PROXY="http://proxy.example.com:8080"`
- **`SEATBELT_PROFILE`** (macOS specific):
- Switches the Seatbelt (`sandbox-exec`) profile on macOS.
- `permissive-open`: (Default) Restricts writes to the project folder (and a
few other folders, see
`packages/cli/src/utils/sandbox-macos-permissive-open.sb`) but allows other
operations.
- `strict`: Uses a strict profile that declines operations by default.
- `<profile_name>`: Uses a custom profile. To define a custom profile, create
a file named `sandbox-macos-<profile_name>.sb` in your project's `.gemini/`
directory (e.g., `my-project/.gemini/sandbox-macos-custom.sb`).
- **`DEBUG` or `DEBUG_MODE`** (often used by underlying libraries or the CLI
itself):
- Set to `true` or `1` to enable verbose debug logging, which can be helpful
for troubleshooting.
- **Note:** These variables are automatically excluded from project `.env`
files by default to prevent interference with gemini-cli behavior. Use
`.gemini/.env` files if you need to set these for gemini-cli specifically.
- **`NO_COLOR`**:
- Set to any value to disable all color output in the CLI.
- **`CLI_TITLE`**:
- Set to a string to customize the title of the CLI.
- **`CODE_ASSIST_ENDPOINT`**:
- Specifies the endpoint for the code assist server.
- This is useful for development and testing.
- **`GEMINI_SYSTEM_MD`**:
- Overrides the base system prompt with the contents of a Markdown file.
- If set to `1` or `true`, it uses the file at `.gemini/system.md`.
- If set to a file path, it uses that file. The path can be absolute or
relative. `~` is supported for the home directory.
- The specified file must exist.
- **`GEMINI_WRITE_SYSTEM_MD`**:
- Writes the default system prompt to a file. This is useful for getting a
template to customize.
- If set to `1` or `true`, it writes to `.gemini/system.md`.
- If set to a file path, it writes to that path. The path can be absolute or
relative. `~` is supported for the home directory. **Note: This will
overwrite the file if it already exists.**
## Command-line arguments
Arguments passed directly when running the CLI can override other configurations
for that specific session.
- **`--model <model_name>`** (**`-m <model_name>`**):
- Specifies the Gemini model to use for this session.
- Example: `npm start -- --model gemini-1.5-pro-latest`
- **`--prompt <your_prompt>`** (**`-p <your_prompt>`**):
- Used to pass a prompt directly to the command. This invokes Gemini CLI in a
non-interactive mode.
- **`--prompt-interactive <your_prompt>`** (**`-i <your_prompt>`**):
- Starts an interactive session with the provided prompt as the initial input.
- The prompt is processed within the interactive session, not before it.
- Cannot be used when piping input from stdin.
- Example: `gemini -i "explain this code"`
- **`--sandbox`** (**`-s`**):
- Enables sandbox mode for this session.
- **`--sandbox-image`**:
- Sets the sandbox image URI.
- **`--debug`** (**`-d`**):
- Enables debug mode for this session, providing more verbose output.
- **`--all-files`** (**`-a`**):
- If set, recursively includes all files within the current directory as
context for the prompt.
- **`--help`** (or **`-h`**):
- Displays help information about command-line arguments.
- **`--show-memory-usage`**:
- Displays the current memory usage.
- **`--yolo`**:
- Enables YOLO mode, which automatically approves all tool calls.
- **`--telemetry`**:
- Enables [telemetry](./telemetry.md).
- **`--telemetry-target`**:
- Sets the telemetry target. See [telemetry](./telemetry.md) for more
information.
- **`--telemetry-otlp-endpoint`**:
- Sets the OTLP endpoint for telemetry. See [telemetry](./telemetry.md) for
more information.
- **`--telemetry-log-prompts`**:
- Enables logging of prompts for telemetry. See [telemetry](./telemetry.md)
for more information.
- **`--extensions <extension_name ...>`** (**`-e <extension_name ...>`**):
- Specifies a list of extensions to use for the session. If not provided, all
available extensions are used.
- Use the special term `gemini -e none` to disable all extensions.
- Example: `gemini -e my-extension -e my-other-extension`
- **`--list-extensions`** (**`-l`**):
- Lists all available extensions and exits.
- **`--include-directories <dir1,dir2,...>`**:
- Includes additional directories in the workspace for multi-directory
support.
- Can be specified multiple times or as comma-separated values.
- 5 directories can be added at maximum.
- Example: `--include-directories /path/to/project1,/path/to/project2` or
`--include-directories /path/to/project1 --include-directories /path/to/project2`
- **`--version`**:
- Displays the version of the CLI.
## Context files (hierarchical instructional context)
While not strictly configuration for the CLI's _behavior_, context files
(defaulting to `GEMINI.md` but configurable via the `contextFileName` setting)
are crucial for configuring the _instructional context_ (also referred to as
"memory") provided to the Gemini model. This powerful feature allows you to give
project-specific instructions, coding style guides, or any relevant background
information to the AI, making its responses more tailored and accurate to your
needs. The CLI includes UI elements, such as an indicator in the footer showing
the number of loaded context files, to keep you informed about the active
context.
- **Purpose:** These Markdown files contain instructions, guidelines, or context
that you want the Gemini model to be aware of during your interactions. The
system is designed to manage this instructional context hierarchically.
### Example context file content (e.g., `GEMINI.md`)
Here's a conceptual example of what a context file at the root of a TypeScript
project might contain:
```markdown
# Project: My Awesome TypeScript Library
## General Instructions:
- When generating new TypeScript code, please follow the existing coding style.
- Ensure all new functions and classes have JSDoc comments.
- Prefer functional programming paradigms where appropriate.
- All code should be compatible with TypeScript 5.0 and Node.js 20+.
## Coding Style:
- Use 2 spaces for indentation.
- Interface names should be prefixed with `I` (e.g., `IUserService`).
- Private class members should be prefixed with an underscore (`_`).
- Always use strict equality (`===` and `!==`).
## Specific Component: `src/api/client.ts`
- This file handles all outbound API requests.
- When adding new API call functions, ensure they include robust error handling
and logging.
- Use the existing `fetchWithRetry` utility for all GET requests.
## Regarding Dependencies:
- Avoid introducing new external dependencies unless absolutely necessary.
- If a new dependency is required, please state the reason.
```
This example demonstrates how you can provide general project context, specific
coding conventions, and even notes about particular files or components. The
more relevant and precise your context files are, the better the AI can assist
you. Project-specific context files are highly encouraged to establish
conventions and context.
- **Hierarchical loading and precedence:** The CLI implements a sophisticated
hierarchical memory system by loading context files (e.g., `GEMINI.md`) from
several locations. Content from files lower in this list (more specific)
typically overrides or supplements content from files higher up (more
general). The exact concatenation order and final context can be inspected
using the `/memory show` command. The typical loading order is:
1. **Global context file:**
- Location: `~/.gemini/<contextFileName>` (e.g., `~/.gemini/GEMINI.md` in
your user home directory).
- Scope: Provides default instructions for all your projects.
2. **Project root and ancestors context files:**
- Location: The CLI searches for the configured context file in the
current working directory and then in each parent directory up to either
the project root (identified by a `.git` folder) or your home directory.
- Scope: Provides context relevant to the entire project or a significant
portion of it.
3. **Sub-directory context files (contextual/local):**
- Location: The CLI also scans for the configured context file in
subdirectories _below_ the current working directory (respecting common
ignore patterns like `node_modules`, `.git`, etc.). The breadth of this
search is limited to 200 directories by default, but can be configured
with a `memoryDiscoveryMaxDirs` field in your `settings.json` file.
- Scope: Allows for highly specific instructions relevant to a particular
component, module, or subsection of your project.
- **Concatenation and UI indication:** The contents of all found context files
are concatenated (with separators indicating their origin and path) and
provided as part of the system prompt to the Gemini model. The CLI footer
displays the count of loaded context files, giving you a quick visual cue
about the active instructional context.
- **Importing content:** You can modularize your context files by importing
other Markdown files using the `@path/to/file.md` syntax. For more details,
see the [Memory Import Processor documentation](../core/memport.md).
- **Commands for memory management:**
- Use `/memory refresh` to force a re-scan and reload of all context files
from all configured locations. This updates the AI's instructional context.
- Use `/memory show` to display the combined instructional context currently
loaded, allowing you to verify the hierarchy and content being used by the
AI.
- See the [Commands documentation](./commands.md#memory) for full details on
the `/memory` command and its sub-commands (`show` and `refresh`).
By understanding and utilizing these configuration layers and the hierarchical
nature of context files, you can effectively manage the AI's memory and tailor
the Gemini CLI's responses to your specific needs and projects.
## Sandboxing
The Gemini CLI can execute potentially unsafe operations (like shell commands
and file modifications) within a sandboxed environment to protect your system.
Sandboxing is disabled by default, but you can enable it in a few ways:
- Using `--sandbox` or `-s` flag.
- Setting `GEMINI_SANDBOX` environment variable.
- Sandbox is enabled in `--yolo` mode by default.
By default, it uses a pre-built `gemini-cli-sandbox` Docker image.
For project-specific sandboxing needs, you can create a custom Dockerfile at
`.gemini/sandbox.Dockerfile` in your project's root directory. This Dockerfile
can be based on the base sandbox image:
```dockerfile
FROM gemini-cli-sandbox
# Add your custom dependencies or configurations here
# For example:
# RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y some-package
# COPY ./my-config /app/my-config
```
When `.gemini/sandbox.Dockerfile` exists, you can use `BUILD_SANDBOX`
environment variable when running Gemini CLI to automatically build the custom
sandbox image:
```bash
BUILD_SANDBOX=1 gemini -s
```
## Usage statistics
To help us improve the Gemini CLI, we collect anonymized usage statistics. This
data helps us understand how the CLI is used, identify common issues, and
prioritize new features.
**What we collect:**
- **Tool calls:** We log the names of the tools that are called, whether they
succeed or fail, and how long they take to execute. We do not collect the
arguments passed to the tools or any data returned by them.
- **API requests:** We log the Gemini model used for each request, the duration
of the request, and whether it was successful. We do not collect the content
of the prompts or responses.
- **Session information:** We collect information about the configuration of the
CLI, such as the enabled tools and the approval mode.
**What we DON'T collect:**
- **Personally identifiable information (PII):** We do not collect any personal
information, such as your name, email address, or API keys.
- **Prompt and response content:** We do not log the content of your prompts or
the responses from the Gemini model.
- **File content:** We do not log the content of any files that are read or
written by the CLI.
**How to opt out:**
You can opt out of usage statistics collection at any time by setting the
`usageStatisticsEnabled` property to `false` in your `settings.json` file:
```json
{
"usageStatisticsEnabled": false
}
```

View File

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ To enable Gemini 3 Pro and Gemini 3 Flash (if available), enable
You can also use the `--model` flag to specify a particular Gemini model on
startup. For more details, refer to the
[configuration documentation](./configuration.md).
[configuration documentation](../get-started/configuration.md).
Changes to these settings will be applied to all subsequent interactions with
Gemini CLI.

View File

@@ -1,143 +0,0 @@
Note: This page will be replaced by [installation.md](installation.md).
# Gemini CLI installation, execution, and deployment
Install and run Gemini CLI. This document provides an overview of Gemini CLI's
installation methods and deployment architecture.
## How to install and/or run Gemini CLI
There are several ways to run Gemini CLI. The recommended option depends on how
you intend to use Gemini CLI.
- As a standard installation. This is the most straightforward method of using
Gemini CLI.
- In a sandbox. This method offers increased security and isolation.
- From the source. This is recommended for contributors to the project.
### 1. Standard installation (recommended for standard users)
This is the recommended way for end-users to install Gemini CLI. It involves
downloading the Gemini CLI package from the NPM registry.
- **Global install:**
```bash
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
```
Then, run the CLI from anywhere:
```bash
gemini
```
- **NPX execution:**
```bash
# Execute the latest version from NPM without a global install
npx @google/gemini-cli
```
### 2. Run in a sandbox (Docker/Podman)
For security and isolation, Gemini CLI can be run inside a container. This is
the default way that the CLI executes tools that might have side effects.
- **Directly from the registry:** You can run the published sandbox image
directly. This is useful for environments where you only have Docker and want
to run the CLI.
```bash
# Run the published sandbox image
docker run --rm -it us-docker.pkg.dev/gemini-code-dev/gemini-cli/sandbox:0.1.1
```
- **Using the `--sandbox` flag:** If you have Gemini CLI installed locally
(using the standard installation described above), you can instruct it to run
inside the sandbox container.
```bash
gemini --sandbox -y -p "your prompt here"
```
### 3. Run from source (recommended for Gemini CLI contributors)
Contributors to the project will want to run the CLI directly from the source
code.
- **Development mode:** This method provides hot-reloading and is useful for
active development.
```bash
# From the root of the repository
npm run start
```
- **Production-like mode (Linked package):** This method simulates a global
installation by linking your local package. It's useful for testing a local
build in a production workflow.
```bash
# Link the local cli package to your global node_modules
npm link packages/cli
# Now you can run your local version using the `gemini` command
gemini
```
---
### 4. Running the latest Gemini CLI commit from GitHub
You can run the most recently committed version of Gemini CLI directly from the
GitHub repository. This is useful for testing features still in development.
```bash
# Execute the CLI directly from the main branch on GitHub
npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli
```
## Deployment architecture
The execution methods described above are made possible by the following
architectural components and processes:
**NPM packages**
Gemini CLI project is a monorepo that publishes two core packages to the NPM
registry:
- `@google/gemini-cli-core`: The backend, handling logic and tool execution.
- `@google/gemini-cli`: The user-facing frontend.
These packages are used when performing the standard installation and when
running Gemini CLI from the source.
**Build and packaging processes**
There are two distinct build processes used, depending on the distribution
channel:
- **NPM publication:** For publishing to the NPM registry, the TypeScript source
code in `@google/gemini-cli-core` and `@google/gemini-cli` is transpiled into
standard JavaScript using the TypeScript Compiler (`tsc`). The resulting
`dist/` directory is what gets published in the NPM package. This is a
standard approach for TypeScript libraries.
- **GitHub `npx` execution:** When running the latest version of Gemini CLI
directly from GitHub, a different process is triggered by the `prepare` script
in `package.json`. This script uses `esbuild` to bundle the entire application
and its dependencies into a single, self-contained JavaScript file. This
bundle is created on-the-fly on the user's machine and is not checked into the
repository.
**Docker sandbox image**
The Docker-based execution method is supported by the `gemini-cli-sandbox`
container image. This image is published to a container registry and contains a
pre-installed, global version of Gemini CLI.
## Release process
The release process is automated through GitHub Actions. The release workflow
performs the following actions:
1. Build the NPM packages using `tsc`.
2. Publish the NPM packages to the artifact registry.
3. Create GitHub releases with bundled assets.

View File

@@ -852,5 +852,5 @@ console.log(JSON.stringify(sanitizeOutput(hookOutput)));
- [Hooks Reference](index.md) - Complete API reference
- [Writing Hooks](writing-hooks.md) - Tutorial and examples
- [Configuration](../cli/configuration.md) - Gemini CLI settings
- [Configuration](../get-started/configuration.md) - Gemini CLI settings
- [Hooks Design Document](../hooks-design.md) - Technical architecture

View File

@@ -689,5 +689,6 @@ matchers:
- [Best Practices](best-practices.md) - Security, performance, and debugging
- [Custom Commands](../cli/custom-commands.md) - Create reusable prompt
shortcuts
- [Configuration](../cli/configuration.md) - Gemini CLI configuration options
- [Configuration](../get-started/configuration.md) - Gemini CLI configuration
options
- [Hooks Design Document](../hooks-design.md) - Technical architecture details

View File

@@ -1040,5 +1040,5 @@ To package hooks as an extension, follow the
- [Hooks Reference](index.md) - Complete API reference and configuration
- [Best Practices](best-practices.md) - Security, performance, and debugging
- [Configuration](../cli/configuration.md) - Gemini CLI settings
- [Configuration](../get-started/configuration.md) - Gemini CLI settings
- [Custom Commands](../cli/custom-commands.md) - Create custom commands