1 Command = Free Gemini 2.5 Pro with 1M Token Brain

Tutorials & Methods
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Your Terminal Just Got Smarter (and Slightly Unsettling)

:headstone: What Is This Creepy-Clever Thing?

Gemini CLI is like hiring a very smart, unpaid robot that lives inside your terminal.
It can read your files, explain code, fix bugs, and do things you probably could’ve done yourself—but didn’t.

  • It uses Gemini 2.5 Pro (yes, the one with a massive memory).
  • It’s free (for now, anyway).
  • You don’t need to install a bunch of stuff or open a browser.
  • Runs straight from a single command.

Basically: imagine ChatGPT, but with terminal powers, and it doesn’t complain about labor laws.

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:hammer_and_wrench: How to Get It Working (Even If You’re Half Asleep)

:compass: Quick Map:
Check Node âžś Copy a command âžś Log in âžś Ask questions âžś Watch magic happen

:white_check_mark: Step 1: Make Sure Node.js Works

Open a terminal and type:

node -v

If it’s v20 or more, you’re golden.
If not, download from nodejs.org (click big green button) or run this if on Linux:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install nodejs npm -y

:high_voltage: Step 2: Run It Instantly (No Install, No Drama)

In the same terminal, paste this:

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

That’s it.
No setup. No admin rights. No 400-step tutorial.
It’ll open, ask for your Google login, and boom—you’re in.

:floppy_disk: Want It Installed Forever?

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

Then you can just type:

gemini
…whenever you want the robot back.

:brain: What Can It Actually Do?

Try these and feel smart:

  • Explain index.js like I’m five.

  • Why is auth.js throwing “TypeError: undefined”? Fix it.

  • Summarize this whole project folder.

Gemini reads your files, finds bugs, shows a fix, and politely asks for permission to change stuff.
(Unless you turn on YOLO mode, which skips the “asking” part. Risky. Fun.)

:top_hat: Hidden Powers You Didn’t Ask For (But Now You Want)

Feature What It Does
--yolo Gemini skips confirmation. Chaos on speed.
GEMINI.md Gemini writes a full step-by-step plan before touching your code. Like a very nervous intern.
/tools Shows all built-in features it secretly has.
/memory Tells you what Gemini remembers (yes, it keeps notes).
/stats Brags about how many tokens it used and time it “saved” you.
@search URL Pulls data from the web right into the conversation.
`echo “prompt” gemini -p -`

:test_tube: Want to Give It Superpowers? Use MCPs (Basically Add-ons)

Example: Add Apidog

Open ~/.gemini/settings.json and paste:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apidog": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "apidog-mcp-server@latest", "--oas=https://example.com/openapi.yaml"]
    }
  }
}

Then you can say:

Use Apidog MCP to list all endpoints.

Boom. It reads your OpenAPI file and acts like it built the API itself.

Example: Add Netdata (DevOps Nerds, Assemble)

"netdata": {
  "command": "/usr/sbin/nd-mcp",
  "args": ["ws://192.168.1.50:19999/mcp?api_key=MYKEY"]
}

Then ask:

What's the CPU usage across all servers for the past hour?
It answers with actual charts. Witchcraft.

:fire_extinguisher: Real Talk: Things That Might Break

Problem Easy Fix
Gemini says “command not found” You forgot to install Node.js.
It opens but nothing happens Try a different terminal or run gemini --no-color.
It keeps asking to log in Use incognito. Clear your cookies. Blame Google.
Your MCP plugin won’t work Your JSON probably has a comma missing. Always a comma.

:warning: Watch Out For These

  • YOLO mode is fun… until Gemini rewrites something important.
  • Never set "trust": true for random MCP plugins. That’s like saying, “Sure, stranger, run whatever you want on my machine.”
  • You can press ESC anytime to cancel what it’s about to do. Use that like your digital eject button.

:receipt: Cheat Sheet: For When You Forget Everything

What You Want What To Type
Reopen last chat /resume
Change look /theme
Free up token space /compress
Start fresh /clear
Find its memory /memory
See its stats /stats

:baby: If You’re a Beginner, Use This

Skill Level What To Do Time Needs Admin?
Kid/Beginner npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli 30 seconds No
Normal user npm install -g @google/gemini-cli 1 minute Sometimes
DevOps pro Add RUN npm i -g @google/gemini-cli in Dockerfile During build Yes

:link: Actual Working Links (No Clickbait)

TL;DR?
Run this and live your best terminal life:

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

If Google ever charges for it, at least you got to feel powerful for free.

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