Tutorial
12 min read
Complete Beginner's Guide to Gemini CLI
Your step-by-step journey from installation to building your first AI-powered workflow
What You'll Need
- Node.js 18 or higher
- A Google account
- 10 minutes of your time
Step 1: Installation
The fastest way to get started is using npx:
npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli
Or install globally:
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
Step 2: First Launch
Start Gemini CLI:
gemini
You'll see a welcome screen where you can pick your color theme and authenticate with Google.
Step 3: Your First Commands
Try these beginner-friendly examples:
Understanding Code
> Explain what this codebase does in simple terms
Code Generation
> Write a simple Express.js server with basic routing
Debugging Help
> Find potential bugs in my authentication code
Pro Tips for Beginners
🚀 Quick Wins
- Start with small, focused questions
- Use natural language - no need for special syntax
- Ask for explanations when you don't understand
- Experiment with different project types
Common Beginner Mistakes
⚠️ Avoid These
- Asking overly complex questions initially
- Not reading the full responses
- Copying code without understanding it
- Forgetting to test generated code
What's Next?
Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore:
- Advanced code analysis
- Multimodal features (image to code)
- Integration with your existing tools
- Custom workflow automation