Gemini’s command line tool is a hidden productivity game changer – and it’s free

AI has finally started to trickle into the Linux command line. Thanks to the likes of Ollama, this reality is no longer avoidable: it’s here, and it’s not going anywhere. That’s not to say you have to use AI in your Linux terminal, but you can. For those who benefit from AI and often use the Linux Command Line Interface (CLI), the combination of the two can be a very powerful productivity boost.

Yes, you can get the power of Gemini AI directly in your Linux terminal.

Also: My two favorite AI apps on Linux – and how I use them to get more done

Gemini CLI is a locally installed tool that can be used for a wide range of tasks, such as content generation, problem solving, deep research, and even task management. Although the original focus of Gemini CLI was on developers, it can also be used by end users who want to access AI without having to use a web browser or a third-party GUI.

The problem with Gemini CLI is that it’s a bit tricky to install. Fortunately, I’m here to help you with that.

How to install Gemini CLI on Ubuntu

What you’ll need: The only things you’ll need are a running instance of Ubuntu Linux (or a distribution based on Ubuntu), a user with sudo privileges, and a working Google account. Make sure you’ve already signed in to your Google account with your default web browser before running Gemini CLI for the first time.

sudo apt-get install nodejs -y

sudo apt-get install npm -y

sudo npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

When that finishes, you’re ready to run Gemini.

Note: If you get an error when trying to run Gemini, you might have to install the latest version of Node.js, which can be done with the following commands:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_23.x -o nodesource_setup.sh
sudo -E bash nodesource_setup.sh
sudo apt-get install nodejs -y

After running the above, you’ll have to reinstall npm with:

sudo apt-get install npm -y

Gemini first run steps

1. Run Gemini

The first thing you must do is run Gemini with the command:

gemini

2. Select your theme

Gemini will prompt you to select a theme. Since this is a curses-based application, use your arrow keys to select the theme you want, then hit Enter on your keyboard.

Also: How I feed my files to a local AI for better, more relevant responses

3. Select your authentication method

You read that right: you have to log in with your Google account. There are other ways to authenticate (Gemini API Key or Vertex AI), but using your Google account is the easiest method. Make sure “Login with Google” is selected, then hit Enter on your keyboard.

Also: Here’s how I finally cracked a tricky Linux problem with this AI terminal app

4. Authenticate

When you hit Enter on your keyboard, your default web browser will open, where you can select the Google account you want to use. Once you’ve authenticated, the terminal window will change to a Gemini prompt, where you can type your first query.

Also: The first 5 Linux commands every new user should learn

And that is how you install the Gemini CLI tool on Linux. Enjoy the power of AI in your terminal.

Also: How to run DeepSeek AI locally to protect your privacy – 2 easy ways

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