Gemini Code Assist is shaking up the developer landscape with a suite of cutting-edge features designed to streamline coding and boost productivity. By combining intelligent automation with granular control, these updates give developers powerful new ways to manage complex tasks.
Agent Mode: Smarter Coding in Your IDE
Agent Mode now powers both VS Code and IntelliJ, offering intelligent collaboration for multi-step coding tasks. Developers can articulate their goals, and Gemini generates a transparent plan for review, helping teams move faster without sacrificing quality.
- VS Code: Agent Mode transitions from Insiders to Preview, now available for all users. With Gemini CLI integration, developers benefit from multi-file edits, full project context, built-in tools, and seamless ecosystem integrations, all supported by a robust Human-in-the-Loop (HiTL) process.
- IntelliJ: Agent Mode is live in Stable, enabling users to review, edit, approve, or reject code changes before they’re implemented. An optional auto-approve feature allows the agent to work autonomously, while all changes remain fully reviewable and reversible.
Enhancements to Agent Mode in VS Code
- Direct code edits with inline diff views for immediate transparency.
- Clearer chat interfaces and persistent agent mode tracking in chat history.
- Streamlined quota management, live shell command output, and support for batched approvals.
- Faster interface response and a toggle that remembers your settings across sessions.
Boosting IDE Productivity
Gemini Code Assist now lets users stop ongoing chat responses, putting you in control of the conversation. IntelliJ introduces "thinking tokens" that reveal the agent's reasoning process for even greater transparency. In VS Code, code completion has become even faster and more relevant.
Previously previewed features now widely available, including:
- Checkpoint reversion in chat
- Adding code snippets and terminal output to context
- Customizing Gemini’s context by specifying or excluding files and folders
Together, these improvements create a more stable and reliable development environment for everyday coding.
Gemini CLI: Advanced Automation at the Command Line
The Gemini CLI has quickly become a developer favorite, evolving rapidly thanks to thousands of community contributions. Enhanced focus on security, privacy, and deeper tool integration sets it apart in the command-line space.
- Gemini CLI GitHub Actions: Now in beta, this tool automates issue triage, speeds up pull request reviews, and offers on-demand collaboration, all while working quietly in the background with full project context.
- VS Code Integration: Context-aware CLI suggestions leverage open files and selections, while native in-editor diffing enables easy review and edits before changes are applied.
- Custom Slash Commands: Easily create reusable prompts to tailor and automate CLI tasks to your workflow.
A transparent public roadmap and ongoing enhancements underscore Google’s commitment to community-driven development for Gemini CLI.
Takeaway: Elevate Your Coding Experience
With expanded agentic capabilities, improved IDE experiences, and a powerful command-line toolkit, Gemini Code Assist is setting a new standard for developer productivity. These updates empower you to tackle complex challenges with speed and confidence, ensuring software development remains efficient and collaborative.
Source: Google Developers Blog: What's new in Gemini Code Assist
Gemini Code Assist: Transforming Developer Workflows with Smarter Automation