FunOS

Gemini CLI is a powerful AI assistant that runs directly inside your Terminal. With Gemini CLI, you can generate code, explain scripts, debug errors, summarize files, and automate development tasks without leaving the command line.

Since FunOS is based on Ubuntu, installing Gemini CLI on FunOS is straightforward. In this tutorial, we will install Node.js using nvm (Node Version Manager) and then install Gemini CLI globally using npm.

What is Gemini CLI?

Gemini CLI is a command-line interface tool developed by Google that allows users to interact with Google’s Gemini AI models directly from the Terminal.

With Gemini CLI, you can:

• Ask technical questions
• Generate Bash, Python, or other programming code
• Debug errors from log files
• Refactor scripts
• Summarize documentation
• Analyze project files

Gemini CLI supports interactive mode and one-line command mode, making it flexible for both casual use and professional development workflows.

Official documentation:
https://geminicli.com/docs/

How to Install Gemini CLI on FunOS

Work on: 22.04.5 ✅ | 24.04.4 ✅ | 25.04 ✅ | 25.10 ✅ | 26.04 ✅

We will first install Node.js using nvm, then install Gemini CLI.

Step 1: Open a Web Browser

Open your preferred web browser and go to: https://nodejs.org/en/download

On that page, look for the sections:

• # Download and install nvm:
• # Download and install Node.js:

We will use the commands displayed there to install nvm and Node.js.

Step 2: Open a Terminal

There are three ways to open Terminal in FunOS:

1. Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
2. Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
3. Press Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 3: Install nvm (Node Version Manager)

Run the command shown in the “# Download and install nvm:” section on the Node.js website.

For example:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.3/install.sh | bash

This command will download and install nvm into your home directory.

Step 4: Reload the Shell

Before installing Node.js, reload your shell configuration:

source ~/.bashrc

This ensures the nvm command is available in the current Terminal session.

Step 5: Install Node.js

Now run the command shown in the “# Download and install Node.js:” section.

For example:

nvm install 24

This installs Node.js version 24.

You can verify the installation with:

node --version
npm --version

If both commands display version numbers, Node.js and npm are installed correctly.

Step 6: Install Gemini CLI

Now install Gemini CLI globally:

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

Verify installation:

gemini --version

If a version number appears, Gemini CLI is successfully installed.

How to Use Gemini CLI

Gemini CLI supports two modes: Interactive Mode and One-Line Command Mode.

1. Interactive Mode

Run the following command:

gemini

You will see:

Do you trust this folder?
Trusting a folder allows Gemini to execute commands it suggests. This is a security feature to prevent accidental execution in untrusted directories.               
                                                                        
● 1. Trust folder (bustami)                                                                                                                 
  2. Trust parent folder (home)                                                                                                                        
  3. Don't trust

Press Enter.

Next question:

? Get started                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                      
  How would you like to authenticate for this project?                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                      
  ● 1. Login with Google                                                                                                                                              
    2. Use Gemini API Key                                                                                                                                            
    3. Vertex AI                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                       
  No authentication method selected.                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                       
  (Use Enter to select)                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                       
  Terms of Services and Privacy Notice for Gemini CLI                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                       
  https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/blob/main/docs/tos-privacy.md 

Press Enter to select the first option:
Login with Google

Then you will see:

Code Assist login required. Opening authentication page in your browser.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                       
Do you want to continue?                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                       
● 1. Yes                                                                                                                                                             
  2. No 

Press Enter to select Yes.

Your web browser will open. Log in with your Google account.

After successful authentication:

1. Close the browser
2. Return to Terminal
3. Press r to restart Gemini CLI

Now Gemini CLI is ready to use in Interactive Mode.

To Exit Interactive Mode

Press:

Ctrl + C

Press Ctrl + C twice if necessary.

2. One-Line Command Mode

You can also use Gemini CLI directly with a single command.

a. Basic Prompt

gemini "Explain how systemd works in Linux"

b. Generate Code

Create a Bash script:

gemini "Write a bash script to back up /home to /mnt/backup"

Generate Python code:

gemini "Create a Python HTTP server using Flask"

c. Explain Existing Code

Explain a file:

gemini explain main.py

Or pipe file content:

cat main.py | gemini "Explain this code"

d. Refactor or Improve Code

gemini "Refactor this script to improve readability" < script.sh

e. Debug an Error

gemini "Why does this error occur?" < error.log

Or inline:

gemini "Fix this Python error: TypeError: unsupported operand type(s)"

For more advanced usage, visit:

https://geminicli.com/docs

How to Uninstall Gemini CLI on FunOS

If you no longer need Gemini CLI, you can remove it completely.

Step 1: Uninstall Gemini CLI

npm uninstall -g @google/gemini-cli

Step 2: Remove Gemini User Data (Optional)

rm -rf ~/.gemini

This removes local Gemini configuration files.

Step 3: Uninstall Node.js (Optional)

If you installed Node.js using nvm:

nvm deactivate
nvm uninstall 24

Replace 24 with the version you installed.

Step 4: Uninstall nvm (Optional)

1. Delete the nvm Directory

rm -rf ~/.nvm

2. Remove nvm From ~/.bashrc

Open your .bashrc:

mousepad ~/.bashrc

Look for the following lines:

export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"

Delete those lines.

Save and close Mousepad.

3. Reload the Shell

source ~/.bashrc

Now nvm is fully removed.

Step 5: Remove npm User Data (Optional)

rm -rf ~/.npm

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Gemini CLI free to use on FunOS?

Yes, Gemini CLI provides a free authentication option using a Google account.

Does Gemini CLI work on Ubuntu-based systems?

Yes. Since FunOS is based on Ubuntu, Gemini CLI works without modification.

Do I need sudo to install Gemini CLI?

No. If you use nvm, you do not need sudo to install Node.js or Gemini CLI.

Conclusion

Gemini CLI is a powerful AI assistant that runs directly in your Terminal and helps you generate code, debug scripts, and improve productivity. Because FunOS is Ubuntu-based, installing Gemini CLI is simple and straightforward using nvm and npm.

By following this guide, you have successfully:

• Installed nvm
• Installed Node.js
• Installed Gemini CLI
• Learned how to use it
• Learned how to uninstall it if needed

You can now take advantage of AI assistance directly from your FunOS Terminal to enhance your workflow and development experience.