Context for Gemini CLI

The Gemini CLI uses a hierarchical system to source context. It loads various context files from several locations, concatenates the contents, and sends them to the model with every prompt.

Official Documentation

• Gemini.md Documentation

Hierarchical Context Files

The CLI loads files in the following order:

1. Global context file:
   Location: ~/.gemini/GEMINI.md (in your user home directory).
   Scope: Provides default instructions for all your projects.
2. Project root and ancestor context files:
   Location: The CLI searches for a GEMINI.md file in the current working directory and then in each parent directory up to the project root (identified by a .git folder).
   Scope: Provides context relevant to the entire project.

The /init Command

To help users easily create a GEMINI.md file, the /init command analyzes the current directory and generates a tailored context file.

Bash

/init
          

This makes it simpler to provide project-specific instructions to the Gemini agent.