// install_gemini
Using AgentRoot with Gemini CLI
Search the AgentRoot registry and install MCP servers and skills into Gemini CLI. Gemini supports the cross-tool .agents/skills/ standard, making project-scoped skills portable across compatible tools.
// what_you_need
- Gemini CLI installed (
npm i -g @anthropic-ai/gemini-cli)
- Node.js 18+
- A project directory (for project-scoped installs)
1Search the registry
# Search for MCP servers
$ npx agent-root search "git" --type mcp
gitops.tools/git-mcp mcp Git MCP Server
transport: stdio | tools: status, diff, log, commit, branch
# Search for skills
$ npx agent-root search "deployment" --type skill
shipfast.dev/deploy-patterns skill Deployment Patterns
skills: docker-deploy, k8s-rollout, ci-pipeline
2Install a record
Use the --tool gemini flag to install into Gemini CLI:
Installing an MCP server:
$ npx agent-root install gitops.tools/git-mcp --tool gemini
# Adds to Gemini MCP configuration:
# ~/.gemini/settings.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"git-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@gitops/git-mcp"]
}
}
}
Installing skills:
$ npx agent-root install shipfast.dev/deploy-patterns --tool gemini
# Downloads skill files to:
# ~/.gemini/skills/shipfast.dev/deploy-patterns/docker-deploy.md
# ~/.gemini/skills/shipfast.dev/deploy-patterns/k8s-rollout.md
# ~/.gemini/skills/shipfast.dev/deploy-patterns/ci-pipeline.md
3Verify it works
Restart Gemini CLI and test that the MCP tools are available:
$ gemini
# In the Gemini session, try using the installed tools
# "Show me the git status using git-mcp"
For skills, Gemini loads them when your prompts match the trigger keywords defined in each skill's frontmatter.
4Project-scoped vs global installs
# Global install (default) — available everywhere
$ npx agent-root install shipfast.dev/deploy-patterns --tool gemini
# Installs to: ~/.gemini/skills/
# Project-scoped — available in this project only
$ npx agent-root install shipfast.dev/deploy-patterns --tool gemini --scope project
# Installs to: .agents/skills/
The .agents/skills/ directory is a cross-tool standard. Skills installed here by any compatible tool (Codex CLI, Gemini CLI) are available to all of them. This means you can install a skill once at the project level and have it work across multiple AI coding assistants.
The cross-tool compatibility matrix for project-scoped skills:
- Claude Code reads from
.claude/skills/
- Cursor reads from
.cursor/skills/
- Codex CLI reads from
.agents/skills/
- Gemini CLI reads from
.agents/skills/
Codex CLI and Gemini CLI share the .agents/skills/ directory, so a project-scoped skill installed for one works for the other automatically.
// troubleshooting
- MCP server not loading: Restart Gemini CLI after installing. Verify
~/.gemini/settings.json contains the server config.
- Skills not triggering: Check that files exist in
~/.gemini/skills/ or .agents/skills/. Ensure your prompts contain keywords that match the skill triggers.
- Cross-tool skills missing: If a skill was installed with
--tool codex --scope project, it should already be in .agents/skills/ and available to Gemini. Verify the directory exists.
- Outdated records: Re-run the install command to pull the latest version from the registry.
// next_steps