Gemini CLI deep dive: a terminal agent worth trying

Setup and ergonomics

Install is a single command, auth uses your Google account, and the default config does the right thing on a fresh machine. No yak-shaving required.

The TUI is clean and approval prompts are clear, which matters when you're letting an agent edit files unattended.

What it does well

• Generous context window handles whole-repo summaries without choking.
• Strong at writing and updating tests against unfamiliar code.
• Reliable shell command generation — fewer fabricated flags than competitors.
• Cheap relative to the quality you get.

Where it stumbles

Multi-step refactors across many files still trail Claude Code. Output formatting occasionally drifts from your repo's conventions, and it doesn't yet have a great equivalent to CLAUDE.md for project-wide instructions.

Best fit

If you live in the terminal, work on cost-sensitive projects, or need a second opinion alongside another agent, Gemini CLI earns its place in the rotation.

Verdict

Worth installing today. Not yet a sole daily driver for complex codebases, but a strong complement and a credible primary choice for many workflows.