docs: Add Google Gemini CLI installation guide and integration #757

ipapapa · 2025-07-26T17:46:19Z

Add installation guide for Google Gemini CLI
Include Docker and binary configuration options
Add authentication setup for Gemini API and Vertex AI
Update main README.md to include Gemini CLI in installation guides
Update installation guides index with Gemini CLI entry and support matrix
Follow established documentation patterns and security best practices

Closes:
#756

- Add comprehensive installation guide for Google Gemini CLI - Include Docker and binary configuration options - Add authentication setup for Gemini API and Vertex AI - Update main README.md to include Gemini CLI in installation guides - Update installation guides index with Gemini CLI entry and support matrix - Follow established documentation patterns and security best practices

soisyourface

This is awesome. For a gemini-cli user that is just trying to get this MCP to work, this is very helpful.

Left a few thoughts on the command use and things.

soisyourface · 2025-08-01T23:56:58Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+# Install GitHub MCP Server in Google Gemini CLI
+
+## Prerequisites
+1. Google Gemini CLI installed (see [Installation Options](#installation-options))


question: should a guide on installing gemini-cli be in here? or just a link to the gemini-cli github page for instructions?

Good question! I've kept a brief installation section for user convenience (just the basic commands for npm, npx, and Homebrew) but added a link to the https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli for more detailed installation options. This way users get the essentials quickly but can dive deeper if needed. What do you think of this approach?

mostly just worried that this information falls behind and perhaps a link to gemini-cli's installation is more robust.

Makes sense, I have made a few changes to emphasize the official documentation link first - making it clear users should go there for up-to-date instructions.

I don't think the information for how to install Gemini CLI belongs here. AFAIK the analogous information is not in the README files for other tools. Eg for Windsurf, the install guide talks about how to install github-mcp-server for Windsurf, not how to install windsurf.

soisyourface · 2025-08-02T00:04:10Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+
+1. **Check MCP server status**:
+   ```bash
+   gemini-cli mcp status


fix: i think the command is gemini and not gemini-cli.

also, there is no gemini mcp status command. the closest is gemini --prompt /mcp list.

for the tools a gemini --prompt /tools

this is true for examples below. you'll need the --prompt flag.

Oups, this was my mistake. I am sorry for this and thank you for catching it. I will fix it below with a new commit.
✅ Changed all gemini-cli commands to gemini
✅ Fixed gemini mcp status to gemini --prompt /mcp list
✅ Fixed gemini mcp list-tools to gemini --prompt /tools
✅ Added --prompt flags where needed throughout the examples

- Replace all 'gemini-cli' commands with correct 'gemini' syntax - Fix verification commands to use '/mcp list' and '/tools' prompts - Add httpUrl remote server method as primary configuration option - Update config file paths from settings.json to config.json - Correct npx installation command syntax - Add link to official Gemini CLI documentation Addresses feedback from soisyourface in PR review.

rica19ro · 2025-08-02T06:33:24Z

Add installation guide for Google Gemini CLI

Include Docker and binary configuration options

Add authentication setup for Gemini API and Vertex AI

Update main README.md to include Gemini CLI in installation guides

Update installation guides index with Gemini CLI entry and support matrix

Follow established documentation patterns and security best practices

Closes:
#756

Reduce detailed installation steps and direct users to official docs for up-to-date instructions, addressing reviewer feedback about maintainability.

DinoChiesa · 2025-08-08T05:27:29Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+
+Gemini CLI uses a settings JSON file to configure MCP servers:
+
+- **Global configuration**: `~/.gemini/config.json`


is it not settings.json ?

Oups my mistake, I have fixed it: a6e2426

DinoChiesa · 2025-08-08T05:28:56Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+## Installation Options
+
+Install Google Gemini CLI using your preferred method. For the most up-to-date installation instructions and troubleshooting, see the [official Gemini CLI documentation](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli).
+


Probably lines 11 through 41 are best left out of this README., which pertains to github-mcp-server. Install instructions for Germini CLI should remain in the README for Gemini CLI.

Good point about lines 11-41. I removed the Gemini CLI installation and authentication sections to keep this focused on GitHub MCP Server setup. This is also consistent with our other installation guides.

DinoChiesa · 2025-08-08T05:30:16Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+      "httpUrl": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
+      "trust": true,
+      "headers": {
+        "Authorization": "Bearer ${GITHUB_PAT}"


this is not currently being resolved, pending google-gemini/gemini-cli#5282

Done: e5e7bfd

it is being resolved, but not with the .env files. you can still set GITHUB_PAT outside of those and it works.

DinoChiesa · 2025-08-08T05:30:58Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+
+### Method 2: Local Docker Setup (Alternative)
+
+**Important**: The npm package `@modelcontextprotocol/server-github` is no longer supported as of April 2025. Use the official Docker image `ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server` instead.


omit "Important: The npm package @modelcontextprotocol/server-github is no longer supported as of April 2025."

This doc page is being added in August 2025. No need to reference old stuff.

Done: 6bfae0d

DinoChiesa · 2025-08-08T05:31:32Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+## Prerequisites
+1. Google Gemini CLI installed (see [Installation Options](#installation-options))
+2. [GitHub Personal Access Token](https://github.com/settings/personal-access-tokens/new) with appropriate scopes
+3. For local installation: [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) installed and running


Or Podman. (https://podman.io)

I have not used Podman but based on my quick check it has Docker command compatibility, so I have added it: 79e0782

In case there is any doubt.... I use podman with this server and with gemini-cli, and it works great - no surprise here.

DinoChiesa · 2025-08-08T05:33:35Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+}
+```
+
+Then set the environment variable:


People can alternatively use the ~/.gemini/.env file to store gemini-cli -related environment variables.
EG, the contents might be:

GITHUB_PAT=ghp_sample_sample_sample GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT=my-gcp-project GEMINI_API_KEY=AIzSamplelBQGwHw-62R598eI-HFOWd4Ol847g

Done: c52a1de

but only after google-gemini/gemini-cli#5282 is resolved, at least for things resolved in settings.json.

DinoChiesa · 2025-08-08T05:34:42Z

docs/installation-guides/install-gemini-cli.md

+
+- **Official repository**: [github/github-mcp-server](https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server)
+- **Docker image**: `ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server` (official and supported)
+- **npm package**: `@modelcontextprotocol/server-github` (deprecated as of April 2025 - no longer functional)


Done, I have removed the deprecated npm package in this commit 6bfae0d

DinoChiesa

Thanks for doing this.
I left a bunch of comments.

The correct configuration file for Gemini CLI is settings.json, not config.json. This applies to both global (~/.gemini/settings.json) and project-specific (.gemini/settings.json) configurations as confirmed by official documentation.

Removed lines 11-41 containing Gemini CLI installation commands and authentication setup instructions.

Added Podman as container engine option alongside Docker.

DinoChiesa · 2025-08-08T16:11:01Z

looking good

Environment variable substitution in headers is not yet supported by Gemini CLI (see google-gemini/gemini-cli#5282).

ipapapa · 2025-08-08T18:00:12Z

@DinoChiesa I have addressed the comments above. Thank you so much for the amazing feedback, it helped a lot. Let me know if there is anything else that you might find useful. Otherwise, feel free to "approve" as a reviewer.

ipapapa · 2025-08-09T09:29:34Z

@soisyourface is there any feedback that has not been addressed? Please let me if you approve for this work to finalize. Thank you!

ipapapa requested a review from a team as a code owner July 26, 2025 17:46

ipapapa mentioned this pull request Aug 1, 2025

Add installation guide for Google Gemini CLI #756

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soisyourface reviewed Aug 2, 2025

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piyanutwat approved these changes Aug 2, 2025

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ipapapa added 2 commits August 3, 2025 14:04

Merge branch 'main' into add-gemini-cli-docs

526a6c1

Emphasize official Gemini CLI documentation link

0127628

Reduce detailed installation steps and direct users to official docs for up-to-date instructions, addressing reviewer feedback about maintainability.

DinoChiesa reviewed Aug 8, 2025

View reviewed changes

DinoChiesa suggested changes Aug 8, 2025

View reviewed changes

ipapapa added 4 commits August 8, 2025 04:32

Remove Gemini CLI installation and authentication sections

bc96391

Removed lines 11-41 containing Gemini CLI installation commands and authentication setup instructions.

Add Podman as Docker alternative in prerequisites

79e0782

Added Podman as container engine option alongside Docker.

Remove references to deprecated npm package

6bfae0d

ipapapa added 2 commits August 8, 2025 10:53

Add comprehensive ~/.gemini/.env file example

c52a1de

Fix authorization header to use literal token placeholder

e5e7bfd

Environment variable substitution in headers is not yet supported by Gemini CLI (see google-gemini/gemini-cli#5282).

DinoChiesa mentioned this pull request Aug 8, 2025

Gemini CLI is not performing environment variable substitution for MCP Servers google-gemini/gemini-cli#5828

Open

DinoChiesa approved these changes Aug 8, 2025

View reviewed changes


		Gemini CLI uses a settings JSON file to configure MCP servers:

		- Global configuration: `~/.gemini/config.json`

		## Installation Options

		Install Google Gemini CLI using your preferred method. For the most up-to-date installation instructions and troubleshooting, see the [official Gemini CLI documentation](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli).


		### Method 2: Local Docker Setup (Alternative)

		Important: The npm package `@modelcontextprotocol/server-github` is no longer supported as of April 2025. Use the official Docker image `ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server` instead.

docs: Add Google Gemini CLI installation guide and integration #757

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