134 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
134 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
# Gemini CLI Built-in Tools
|
|
|
|
Gemini's unique capabilities and tool comparison with Claude Code.
|
|
|
|
## Unique Tools (Gemini Only)
|
|
|
|
### google_web_search
|
|
|
|
Real-time internet search via Google Search API.
|
|
|
|
**Usage:**
|
|
```bash
|
|
gemini "What are the latest React 19 features? Use Google Search." -o text
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**Best For:**
|
|
- Current events and news
|
|
- Latest library versions/documentation
|
|
- Community opinions and benchmarks
|
|
- Anything requiring post-cutoff information
|
|
|
|
**Examples:**
|
|
- "What are the security vulnerabilities in lodash 4.x? Use Google Search."
|
|
- "Best practices for Next.js 14 app router in November 2025."
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
### codebase_investigator
|
|
|
|
Deep architectural analysis and dependency mapping.
|
|
|
|
**Usage:**
|
|
```bash
|
|
gemini "Use codebase_investigator to analyze this project" -o text
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**Output Includes:**
|
|
- Architecture overview
|
|
- Component relationships
|
|
- Dependency chains
|
|
- Potential issues/inconsistencies
|
|
|
|
**Best For:**
|
|
- Onboarding to unfamiliar codebases
|
|
- Understanding legacy systems
|
|
- Finding hidden dependencies
|
|
- Architecture documentation
|
|
|
|
**Example:**
|
|
```bash
|
|
gemini "Use codebase_investigator to map the authentication flow" -o text
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
### save_memory
|
|
|
|
Cross-session persistent memory storage.
|
|
|
|
**Usage:**
|
|
```bash
|
|
gemini "Remember that this project uses Zustand for state management. Save this to memory." -o text
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**Best For:**
|
|
- Project conventions
|
|
- User preferences
|
|
- Recurring context
|
|
- Custom instructions
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
## Tool Comparison
|
|
|
|
Gemini has standard file/search tools similar to Claude Code, plus unique capabilities:
|
|
|
|
| Capability | Claude Code | Gemini CLI |
|
|
|------------|-------------|------------|
|
|
| File listing | LS, Glob | list_directory, glob |
|
|
| File reading | Read | read_file |
|
|
| Code search | Grep | search_file_content |
|
|
| Web fetch | WebFetch | web_fetch |
|
|
| **Web search** | WebSearch | **google_web_search** ⭐ |
|
|
| **Architecture** | Task (Explore) | **codebase_investigator** ⭐ |
|
|
| **Memory** | N/A | **save_memory** ⭐ |
|
|
| Task tracking | TodoWrite | write_todos |
|
|
|
|
⭐ = Gemini's unique advantages
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
## JSON Output Stats
|
|
|
|
When using `-o json`, tool usage is reported in stats:
|
|
|
|
```json
|
|
{
|
|
"response": "actual content",
|
|
"stats": {
|
|
"tools": {
|
|
"totalCalls": 3,
|
|
"byName": {
|
|
"google_web_search": {
|
|
"count": 1,
|
|
"success": 1,
|
|
"durationMs": 3000
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
## Tool Combination Patterns
|
|
|
|
Leverage multiple tools in single prompts:
|
|
|
|
**Research → Implement:**
|
|
```bash
|
|
gemini "Use Google Search to find best practices for [topic], then implement them" -o text
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**Analyze → Report:**
|
|
```bash
|
|
gemini "Use codebase_investigator to analyze the project, then write a summary report" -o text
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**Search → Suggest:**
|
|
```bash
|
|
gemini "Find all files using deprecated API, read them, and suggest updates" -o text
|
|
```
|