> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.snapgen.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Gemini CLI

> Point Google Gemini CLI at SnapGen's Gemini native compatibility endpoint.

Gemini CLI uses Google's native `generateContent` protocol. SnapGen exposes that protocol at `/v1beta/models/{model}:generateContent` and accepts the current GPT text model IDs.

## Install and verify

```bash theme={null}
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
gemini --version
```

## Configure SnapGen

```bash theme={null}
export GEMINI_API_KEY="$SNAPGEN_API_KEY"
export GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL="https://api.snapgen.org"
```

The correct current base URL variable is `GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL`. Do not use `GEMINI_BASE_URL`; Gemini CLI does not read that variable.

If your shell already has Google credentials, remove the conflicting values for this session:

```bash theme={null}
unset GOOGLE_API_KEY
unset GOOGLE_GENAI_USE_VERTEXAI
```

## Send a request

```bash theme={null}
gemini --model gpt-5.4-mini --prompt "Review this function for edge cases."
```

Run `gemini` without `--prompt` to enter interactive mode.

## Persist the variables

Add the two exports to your shell profile or a local `.env` file that is excluded from version control.

```bash theme={null}
export GEMINI_API_KEY="sk-xxxx"
export GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL="https://api.snapgen.org"
```

<Note>
  Gemini CLI's native request format was verified against SnapGen with
  `gpt-5.4-mini`. The gateway translates the request; the model is not a Google
  Gemini model despite the client protocol.
</Note>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Gemini CLI says both GOOGLE_API_KEY and GEMINI_API_KEY are set">
    Run `unset GOOGLE_API_KEY` before starting the CLI. Gemini CLI otherwise
    prefers `GOOGLE_API_KEY`, which may send the wrong credential to SnapGen.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Requests still go to Google's API">
    Check that the variable name is exactly `GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL` and the
    value is `https://api.snapgen.org` without `/v1` or `/v1beta`.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The model is rejected">
    Use an ID returned by [`GET /v1/models`](/api-reference/list-models). Do not
    use a Gemini model name unless it is present in the SnapGen catalog.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A native Gemini feature is unavailable">
    SnapGen converts the core content-generation protocol. Google-specific
    account, grounding, caching, or hosted-tool features may not be available.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>