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Overview

Google Gemini CLI is a command-line tool for interacting with Gemini models. LemonData provides a compatible endpoint that allows you to use Gemini CLI with access to 300+ models.

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System Requirements

  • Node.js: Version 20.0+
  • OS: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, Ubuntu 20.04+, or Debian 10+

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Installation

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
Verify installation: 
gemini --version

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Configuration

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Step 1: Get Your API Key

  1. Log into LemonData Dashboard
  2. Navigate to API Keys
  3. Create and copy your API key (format: sk-...)

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Step 2: Set Environment Variables

Temporary (current session): 
export GEMINI_API_KEY="sk-your-lemondata-key"
export GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL="https://api.lemondata.cc"
Permanent configuration: Add to your shell configuration file: 
echo 'export GEMINI_API_KEY="sk-your-lemondata-key"' >> ~/.bashrc
echo 'export GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL="https://api.lemondata.cc"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
Restart your terminal after configuration for changes to take effect.
Known limitation: In some cases, the Gemini CLI may not respect GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL if there’s a cached Google session. If you experience connection issues, try clearing the CLI cache or starting a fresh terminal session.

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Basic Usage

Start Gemini CLI from your project directory: 
cd your-project
gemini
On first run, you’ll:
  1. Choose a theme
  2. Confirm safety notice
  3. Trust the working directory

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Available Models

ModelDescription
gemini-2.5-proMost capable Gemini model
gemini-2.5-flashFast, efficient for most tasks
gemini-2.0-flashPrevious generation, stable

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Common Commands

Ask a question: 
> What is the best way to structure a React app?
Analyze code: 
> Explain the code in src/main.ts
Generate code: 
> Create a Python function to parse JSON files
Review changes: 
> Review the recent git changes and suggest improvements

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Verify Configuration

# Check environment variables
echo $GEMINI_API_KEY
echo $GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL

# Test connection
gemini

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Troubleshooting

  • Verify GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL is set to https://api.lemondata.cc
  • Note: No /v1 suffix for Gemini endpoint
  • Check network connectivity
  • Verify GEMINI_API_KEY environment variable is set
  • Check that the key starts with sk-
  • Ensure the key is active in LemonData dashboard

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Best Practices

Always run Gemini CLI from your project root for better context understanding.
Only trust directories you own. Gemini CLI can read and modify files.
Always review AI-generated code before committing to your project.