Gemini Code Assistant

A VSCode extension that provides a chat interface for Google's Gemini CLI, enabling AI-powered coding assistance directly in your editor.

Features

• Chat Interface: Interactive chat panel with Google's Gemini AI models
• Multiple Models: Support for various Gemini models (2.5-flash, 2.5-pro, 1.5-flash, 1.5-pro)
• Direct API Support: Use Google AI API directly or Gemini CLI
• Command Mode: Execute terminal commands directly in chat (like Augment)
• File Writing: Automatic file creation from AI responses
• Code Analysis: AI-powered code review and improvement suggestions
• Diff Generation: Generate code changes and view as VSCode diffs
• Multi-file Generation: Create entire project structures and components
• Template System: Generate from predefined project templates
• File Context Integration: Automatically include open file content in prompts
• Code Review Mode: Analyze selected code with specific review prompts
• Keyboard Shortcut: Quick access with Cmd+Shift+G (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+G (Windows/Linux)
• Real-time Responses: Streaming responses with live updates
• Configurable: Customizable model selection and API/CLI options
• Debug Tools: Built-in debugging for API and CLI connections

Requirements

Option 1: Direct API (Recommended)

• Google AI API Key: Get one from Google AI Studio
• No additional setup required

Option 2: Gemini CLI

• Google Cloud CLI (gcloud): Must be installed and authenticated
• Gemini CLI: Must be installed and accessible
• Active Google Cloud Project: With Gemini API access enabled

Installation Prerequisites

For Direct API:

1. Get API key from Google AI Studio
2. Configure in VSCode settings (see Extension Settings below)

For Gemini CLI:

1. Install Google Cloud CLI: https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install
2. Install Gemini CLI: npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
3. Authenticate: gcloud auth login
4. Set up your project: gcloud config set project YOUR_PROJECT_ID

Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings:

Authentication Settings:

• geminiCode.authMethod: Choose authentication method - "login" (gcloud) or "apikey" (API key) (default: login)
• geminiCode.apiKey: Google AI API Key (required when using API key authentication)
• geminiCode.useDirectAPI: Use direct API calls instead of CLI (default: false)

General Settings:

• geminiCode.model: Choose the Gemini model to use (default: gemini-2.5-pro)
• geminiCode.persistChatHistory: Save and restore chat history across sessions (default: true)
• geminiCode.maxHistoryMessages: Maximum number of messages to keep in history (default: 100)
• geminiCode.geminiPath: Custom path to Gemini CLI executable (auto-detected if empty)

File Context Settings:

• geminiCode.autoIncludeFileContext: Automatically include open file content in chat prompts (default: true)
• geminiCode.maxFileContextLines: Maximum number of lines to include from file context (default: 500)
• geminiCode.includeRelatedFiles: Include content from related files (imports, dependencies) (default: false)

Usage

Basic Chat

1. Start Chat: Press Cmd+Shift+G or use Command Palette → "Start Gemini Chat"
2. Type your question in the chat interface
3. Get AI responses powered by Google's Gemini models

Command Mode (Terminal Integration)

1. Enter Command Mode: Type ! followed by any terminal command
   • Example: !ls, !pwd, !git status, !npm install
2. Execute Commands: Press Enter to run the command in your workspace
3. Exit Command Mode: Press Escape to return to chat mode
4. Real-time Output: See command output streamed in real-time

File Writing

1. Ask for Code: Request Gemini to write code and save to a file
   • Example: "write a Python script and save to hello.py"
2. Manual Save: Use the 📝 button to save any response to a file
3. Auto-open: Created files automatically open in VSCode

Export Conversations

1. Export to Markdown: Use the 📋 button to copy entire conversation as markdown
2. Formatted Output: Includes proper markdown formatting for all message types
3. Clipboard Ready: Automatically copies to clipboard for easy sharing
4. Command Palette: Use "Gemini Code: Export Conversation" command

Chat History Management

1. Persistent History: Chat history automatically saves and restores across VSCode sessions
2. Save Sessions: Save current conversation as a named session for later reference
3. Load Sessions: Quickly switch between different saved conversation sessions
4. Manage Sessions: View, load, or delete saved chat sessions
5. Clear History: Remove all chat history when needed

Code Analysis & Generation

1. Generate Code Diff: Select code → Right-click → "Generate Code Diff"
2. Analyze and Improve: Right-click on code or files → "Analyze and Improve Code"
3. Multiple Analysis Types: General analysis, performance, security, documentation, cleanup
4. VSCode Diff View: See changes side-by-side in VSCode's native diff viewer
5. Apply Changes: Choose to apply changes, save as new file, or dismiss

Multi-file Code Generation

1. Generate Project Structure: Right-click on folder → "Generate Project Structure"
2. Generate Component/Module: Right-click on folder → "Generate Component/Module"
3. Generate from Template: Command Palette → "Generate from Template"
4. Project Types: Web apps, mobile apps, APIs, libraries, CLI tools, and more
5. Component Types: React, Vue, Angular components, utilities, tests, and more
6. Template Library: Pre-built templates for popular frameworks and tools

File Context Integration

1. Automatic Context: Open files are automatically included in chat prompts
2. Smart Detection: Context is added when questions are code-related
3. Related Files: Optionally include imported/dependent files
4. Context Limits: Configurable maximum lines to include from files
5. Chat with Context: Explicitly start chat with current file context

Code Review Mode

1. Review Selected Code: Select code → Right-click → "Review Selected Code"
2. Explain Code: Get detailed explanations of code functionality
3. Find Bugs: Analyze code for potential issues and vulnerabilities
4. Suggest Improvements: Get optimization and enhancement suggestions
5. Add Comments: Generate comprehensive documentation and comments
6. Multiple Review Types: Comprehensive, focused, or custom analysis

Available Commands

• API Connection: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Test Direct API"
• CLI Connection: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Test CLI Connection"
• Command Help: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Show Command Mode Help"
• Export Chat: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Export Conversation"
• Save Session: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Save Chat Session"
• Load Session: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Load Chat Session"
• Manage Sessions: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Manage Chat Sessions"
• Clear History: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Clear Chat History"
• Generate Diff: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Generate Code Diff"
• Analyze Code: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Analyze and Improve Code"
• Generate Project: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Generate Project Structure"
• Generate Component: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Generate Component/Module"
• Generate from Template: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Generate from Template"
• Review Code: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Review Selected Code"
• Explain Code: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Explain Code"
• Find Bugs: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Find Bugs and Issues"
• Suggest Improvements: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Suggest Improvements"
• Add Comments: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Add Comments/Documentation"
• Chat with Context: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Chat with File Context"
• Switch Auth Method: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Switch Authentication Method"
• Test Authentication: Command Palette → "Gemini Code: Test Authentication"

Authentication Management

1. Switch Authentication Method: Use "Switch Authentication Method" command to change between login and API key
2. Test Authentication: Use "Test Authentication" command to verify your setup is working
3. Automatic Validation: Extension automatically checks authentication before processing requests
4. Error Handling: Clear error messages guide you to fix authentication issues
5. Flexible Setup: Choose the authentication method that works best for your workflow

Authentication Methods:

Login Authentication (Default)

• Uses gcloud CLI authentication
• Requires gcloud auth login
• Works with existing Google Cloud setup
• No API key needed

API Key Authentication

• Uses Google AI API key directly
• Get key from Google AI Studio
• No gcloud CLI required
• Simpler setup for API-only usage

Multi-file Generation Examples

Project Types Available:

• 🌐 Web Applications: React, Vue, Angular, or vanilla web apps
• 📱 Mobile Apps: React Native, Flutter, or native mobile applications
• 🖥️ Desktop Applications: Electron, Tauri, or native desktop apps
• 🔧 APIs/Backend: REST APIs, GraphQL servers, microservices
• 📚 Libraries/Packages: NPM packages, Python libraries, Rust crates
• 🤖 CLI Tools: Command-line applications and utilities
• 🎯 Custom Projects: Any project type you can describe

Component/Module Types:

• ⚛️ React Components: Functional components with hooks and TypeScript
• 🟢 Vue Components: Vue 3 with Composition API and TypeScript
• 🅰️ Angular Components: Angular components with TypeScript and services
• 🎨 UI Component Libraries: Reusable component sets with Storybook
• 🔧 Utility Modules: Helper functions, hooks, and utilities
• 📊 Data Models: Database schemas, API models, and types
• 🌐 API Modules: Controllers, routes, and middleware
• 🧪 Test Suites: Unit tests, integration tests, and test utilities

Template Library:

• React + TypeScript: Modern React app with Vite and testing setup
• Vue 3 + TypeScript: Vue app with Composition API and build tools
• Angular Application: Full Angular app with CLI structure
• Node.js Express API: RESTful API with TypeScript and middleware
• Python FastAPI: Modern Python API with async support
• Rust CLI Tool: Command-line tool with Clap and proper structure
• React Native App: Cross-platform mobile app template
• Electron App: Desktop application with React frontend
• NPM Package: TypeScript library with build and publish setup
• Testing Framework: Complete testing setup with utilities

Configuration

The extension can be configured through VSCode settings:

File Context Settings:

• geminiCode.autoIncludeFileContext: Automatically include open file content in chat prompts (default: true)
• geminiCode.maxFileContextLines: Maximum number of lines to include from file context (default: 500)
• geminiCode.includeRelatedFiles: Include content from related files (imports, dependencies) (default: false)

Other Settings:

• geminiCode.model: The Gemini model to use (gemini-2.5-pro, gemini-2.5-flash, etc.)
• geminiCode.useDirectAPI: Use direct API instead of CLI (default: false)
• geminiCode.apiKey: Google AI API Key for direct API access
• geminiCode.persistChatHistory: Save and restore chat history across sessions (default: true)
• geminiCode.maxHistoryMessages: Maximum number of messages to keep in history (default: 100)

Known Issues

• Requires active internet connection
• Subject to Google Cloud quotas and rate limits
• Requires proper gcloud authentication

Release Notes

0.1.0

Initial release with:

• Chat interface for Gemini CLI
• Multiple model support
• Configurable settings
• Debug tools

Following extension guidelines

Ensure that you've read through the extensions guidelines and follow the best practices for creating your extension.

• Extension Guidelines

Working with Markdown

You can author your README using Visual Studio Code. Here are some useful editor keyboard shortcuts:

• Split the editor (Cmd+\ on macOS or Ctrl+\ on Windows and Linux).
• Toggle preview (Shift+Cmd+V on macOS or Shift+Ctrl+V on Windows and Linux).
• Press Ctrl+Space (Windows, Linux, macOS) to see a list of Markdown snippets.

For more information

• Visual Studio Code's Markdown Support
• Markdown Syntax Reference

Enjoy!