Gemini AGENT Mode: NEW FULLY FREE AI Coder By Google Is Insane! RIP Cursor & Github Copilot!

Key Concepts

Gemini CLI, Gemini 2.5 Pro, 1 Million Token Context Window, Gemini Code Assist, VS Code Extension, Agent Mode, MCP (Model Control Parameters), Multi-file Editing, Terminal-Based AI Assistance, Google Search Integration, Free AI Coding Tools.

Gemini CLI: A Free Coding Agent

Google has launched Gemini CLI, a free and open-source coding agent based on the Gemini 2.5 Pro model. This CLI provides developers with direct access to Gemini 2.5 Pro from their terminal, similar to Claude Code, but with enhanced capabilities and no cost.

Key Features:

Terminal Integration: Seamlessly integrates into developer workflows, offering fast and lightweight access to Gemini 2.5 Pro.
Grounding with Google Search: Allows prompts to be grounded with Google Search for up-to-date information.
External Tool Usage: Supports the use of external tools to extend its capabilities.
MCP Support: Enables customization and extension of functionalities through Model Control Parameters.
Task Automation: Facilitates the automation of tasks and integration with existing workflows.
1 Million Token Context Window: Leverages a large context window for more relevant and comprehensive responses.

Gemini Code Assist: An AI-Powered Coding Assistant

Gemini CLI shares its AI backbone with Gemini Code Assist, Google's free AI coding assistant integrated within VS Code and other IDEs. The integration of Gemini CLI makes Gemini Code Assist a powerful alternative to other coding assistants like Copilot and R Code.

Key Features:

Real-time Code Suggestions: Provides immediate code suggestions as you type.
Automatic Completions: Automatically completes code snippets and functions.
Multi-file Editing: Can make changes across multiple files simultaneously.
Full File Generation: Generates entire files based on natural language descriptions.
GitHub Integration: Reviews pull requests and suggests fixes automatically.
Usage Limits: Supports up to 6,000 code-related requests and 240 chat requests per day.

Getting Started with Gemini Code Assist and Agent Mode

To use Gemini Code Assist:

Install the Gemini Code Assist extension from the VS Code Marketplace (link in the description).
Create an account or log in with your Google account.
Enable Agent Mode (requires manual configuration due to incomplete documentation).

Enabling Agent Mode:

Open the user settings JSON file in VS Code (Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)).
Add or modify the setting: "Gemini Code Assist.update channel": "insiders"
Save the file and restart VS Code.
Enable Agent Mode within the Gemini Code Assist extension.

Agent Mode and its Capabilities

Agent Mode allows Gemini Code Assist to autonomously execute tasks, such as creating dashboards, by generating code, running terminal commands, and editing multiple files.

Example:

Prompt: "Create a stock dashboard for me."
Gemini Code Assist autonomously creates a dashboard with stock data, technical analysis, and volume information for stocks like Tesla, Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft.

MCPs and Tool Integration:

Agent Mode supports Model Control Parameters (MCPs) to enhance the agent's capabilities.
It integrates with built-in tools like Google Search, memory saving, and web fetching.

CLI Integration within Code Assist

The CLI tool is integrated within Code Assist, enabling users to write, debug, and improve code directly from the terminal. It provides multi-step suggestions and can automatically fix errors and write tests when Agent Mode is enabled.

Conclusion

Google's Gemini CLI and Gemini Code Assist offer powerful, free AI-driven coding assistance. The integration of the CLI into Code Assist, combined with Agent Mode and a large context window, provides developers with a comprehensive set of tools for code generation, debugging, and task automation. The speaker encourages viewers to explore these tools and stay updated on new features through the release notes and the World of AI newsletter.