Gemini CLI Best Practices

This tutorial will guide you through effective usage of Gemini CLI in real development scenarios, including workflow optimization, common problem solutions, and professional tips.

Workflow Optimization

1. Optimal Project Initialization Flow

Recommended project startup process:

# 1. Create project directory
mkdir my-awesome-project
cd my-awesome-project

# 2. Initialize Git repository (recommended before Gemini CLI init)
git init

# 3. Create basic .gitignore
echo "node_modules/" > .gitignore
echo ".env" >> .gitignore

# 4. Initialize Gemini CLI
gemini

Why this approach?

• Early Git initialization helps Gemini CLI better understand project structure
• Pre-configured .gitignore prevents unnecessary file tracking
• Clear project structure helps AI provide more accurate suggestions

2. Writing High-Quality GEMINI.md

GEMINI.md is your project's "manual" - writing it well is crucial:

# Project Name

## Project Overview
- **Goal**: Build a modern React application
- **Tech Stack**: React 18, TypeScript, Vite
- **Target Users**: Enterprise users

## Development Standards
- Use TypeScript strict mode
- Follow Airbnb ESLint rules
- Component file names use PascalCase
- Utility functions go in /src/utils directory

## API Conventions
- All API requests use /api/v1 prefix
- Error handling uses try-catch consistently
- Response format: { success: boolean, data: any, message: string }

Practical Tips

1. Effective Context Management

# View current context
/memory show

# Add important files to context
/add src/types/api.ts
/add docs/architecture.md

# Clear irrelevant context
/clear

2. Leverage Tools and Plugins

# View available tools
/tools

# Manage MCP servers
/mcp list
/mcp add database-helper

3. Batch Processing and Automation

# Generate multiple components
gemini "Generate UserList, UserForm, UserDetail components for user management module"

# Automated test generation
gemini "Generate comprehensive unit tests for src/utils/validation.ts"

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: AI Responses Not Precise Enough

Cause: Insufficient context or unclear descriptions

Solutions:

1. Complete the GEMINI.md file
2. Provide specific requirement descriptions
3. Include relevant code examples

# ❌ Vague request
gemini "help me write a component"

# ✅ Clear request
gemini "Create a user info card component that receives user object as props, displays avatar, name, email and status, using TypeScript and Tailwind CSS"

Issue 2: Generated Code Style Inconsistency

Solution: Specify coding standards in GEMINI.md

## Coding Standards
- Use functional components and hooks
- Props interfaces end with Props, e.g., UserCardProps
- File exports use export default
- Styling uses Tailwind CSS classes

Issue 3: Slow Response When Handling Large Projects

Solutions:

1. Use .geminiignore to exclude unnecessary files
2. Manage context reasonably, include only relevant files
3. Break complex tasks into smaller tasks

Team Collaboration Best Practices

1. Standardize GEMINI.md Format

Team members should unify GEMINI.md format and content:

# Required Sections
- Project Overview
- Tech Stack
- Development Standards
- API Conventions
- Deployment Process

2. Version Control Integration

# Check code before committing
gemini "Check if this commit's code follows project standards"

# Generate commit messages
gemini "Generate appropriate git commit message based on code changes"

3. Code Review Assistant

# Review code changes
gemini "Review this PR's code changes, focus on security and performance"

# Generate testing suggestions
gemini "Suggest what test cases should be added for this new feature"

Performance Optimization Tips

1. Reduce Unnecessary File Scanning

Create appropriate .geminiignore file:

# Dependency directories
node_modules/
dist/
build/

# Log files
*.log
logs/

# Cache files
.cache/
.temp/

# Large resource files
*.mp4
*.mkv
*.zip

2. Smart Cache Usage

# Check cache status
gemini status

# Clear cache (if issues occur)
gemini cache clear

Summary

Mastering these best practices can significantly improve your Gemini CLI efficiency:

1. Preparation matters: Good project structure and clear GEMINI.md
2. Precise requirement descriptions: More specific requests yield more accurate results
3. Reasonable context management: Include only relevant information, avoid information overload
4. Leverage tool ecosystem: Make full use of MCP and extension features
5. Team collaboration standards: Unified workflows and standards

Continue exploring and practicing - you'll discover more possibilities with Gemini CLI in different scenarios!