AI coding assistants are powerful but have limitations—training data cuts off at a specific date, missing new API features and changes. Without access to Gemini-specific documentation, agents may suggest generic patterns instead of optimized approaches.
Gemini API skills address these gaps by giving your coding agent direct access to the latest Gemini API documentation, integration patterns, and best practices. This ensures your agent can offer more accurate and specific code examples and guidance. By installing these skills, your coding assistant stays current with the evolving Gemini API and its recommended usage.
Available skills
The following skills are available. Install the ones relevant to your use case.
- skills.sh: Recommended. The open standard for portable agent behaviors.
- Context7: Supported for users already utilizing the Context7 ecosystem.
gemini-api-dev
The core Gemini API development skill:
- Points your coding agent to official Gemini API documentation
- Provides best practices for building Gemini-powered applications
- Includes recommended patterns for common integrations
Install with skills.sh
npx skills add google-gemini/gemini-skills --skill gemini-api-dev --global
Install with Context7
npx ctx7 skills install /google-gemini/gemini-skills gemini-api-dev
gemini-live-api-dev
Skill for building real-time conversational AI applications with Gemini Live API. This skill provides documentation and best practices for:
- WebSocket connections for low-latency streaming
- Streaming audio, video, and text
- Voice activity detection and barge-in support
Install with skills.sh
npx skills add google-gemini/gemini-skills --skill gemini-live-api-dev --global
Install with Context7
npx ctx7 skills install /google-gemini/gemini-skills gemini-live-api-dev
gemini-interactions-api
Skill for building apps with the Interactions API. The Interactions API is a unified interface for interacting with Gemini models and agents, designed for agentic applications. This skill covers:
- Text generation, multi-turn chat, and streaming
- Function calling, structured output, and image generation
- Background execution and Deep Research agents
- Server-side conversation state management
- Python and TypeScript SDK patterns
Install with skills.sh
npx skills add google-gemini/gemini-skills --skill gemini-interactions-api --global
Install with Context7
npx ctx7 skills install /google-gemini/gemini-skills gemini-interactions-api
Verify installation
After installing, confirm that your coding agent has indexed the skill and can access the live Gemini API documentation.
1. Verify agent behavior
The most reliable way to verify is to ask your agent a technical question about Gemini API.
Prompt: "How do I use context caching with the Gemini API?"
A successful installation will:
- Reference specific Gemini methods like
cacheContentorcachedContents.create. - Show an indicator that it is "Using skill: gemini-api-dev".
2. Verify manifest
If the agent gives a generic answer, use the specific "discovery" command for your environment to verify the skill is loaded.
| Environment | Verification method |
|---|---|
| Claude Code | Type /skills in the terminal to list all active manifests. |
| Cursor | Open Settings > Rules. Verify the skill appears under "Agent Decides." |
| Antigravity | Type /skills list or check the Customizations > Rules sidebar. |
| Gemini CLI | Run gemini skills list or use the /skills slash command in-session. |
| Copilot | Type @gemini /skills (or just /skills) to view active extensions. |
Troubleshooting
If your agent provides only general information or fails to recognize Gemini-specific methods, check the following:
Agent didn't discover the skill
Most agents index skills only on startup.
Fix: Completely restart your IDE (Cursor/VS Code) or exit and re-open your terminal-based agent (Claude Code).
Global vs. local conflict
If you installed with the --global flag, your agent might be ignoring it in
favor of project-specific rules.
Fix: Try installing the skill directly into your project root without the global flag:
npx skills add google-gemini/gemini-skills --skill gemini-api-dev