Gemini Code Assist

Not too long ago, coding meant staring at a screen, toggling between documentation, Stack Overflow, and your IDE, trying to piece together a solution one line at a time. Debugging could take hours, and writing boilerplate code was just part of the grind.

But today, things are shifting—and fast. AI-powered coding assistants are beginning to redefine how we build software. Among the frontrunners in this revolution is Google’s Gemini Code Assist—powered by Gemini 2.5as of June 2025—which currently offers the largest context window of any public LLM (1 million tokens). This makes it especially powerful for navigating large codebases and providing deeply contextual assistance. It’s quickly gaining popularity among developers working in complex, cloud-native environments, particularly those based on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

This blog will explore AI coding assistants, why they matter, how Gemini compares to alternatives, and how to use them effectively. Whether you’re an early-career developer or a tech lead exploring AI for your team, this guide aims to give you clarity and direction.

What exactly is an AI coding assistant?#

An AI coding assistant is a tool that helps you write, understand, and improve code, often in real time. It leverages large language models trained on billions of lines of code and documentation. These assistants can autocomplete your code, explain what a function does, translate one language to another, and even write tests for your application.

But more than a convenience, AI coding assistants are becoming essential. Here’s why:

• Speed: Move from idea to execution much faster—no more tab-switching between docs and code.

• Precision: AI assistants help catch syntax errors, logical flaws, and outdated patterns before they snowball.

• Learning: New developers can learn on the job with intelligent, context-aware suggestions.

• Scalability: In large projects, they help you navigate unfamiliar codebases more efficiently.

The current landscape: Copilot, Claude, Codex, and Gemini#

The AI coding assistant space is heating up. Notable players include:

• GitHub Copilot: Built on OpenAI’s Codex model, Copilot delivers real-time code suggestions within GitHub and VS Code, making it one of the most widely used AI tools for developers.

• Claude Code: Part of Anthropic’s Claude model family, Claude Code supports high-context, safety-focused code generation and explanations. Paid plans offer a context window of 200K tokens, with enterprise tiers reaching 500K tokens.

• Codex CLI: An open-source, terminal-based coding agent from OpenAI that brings code generation, file operations, and shell commands into your terminal environment. It supports multimodal inputs like screenshots and code execution, enabling a streamlined, command-line-first workflow.

Gemini Code Assist stands out, especially if your workflow involves Google Cloud. With Gemini 2.5 under the hood, it’s optimized for deep integrations and enterprise-grade capabilities. It offers the industry’s largest context window at 1 million tokens, allowing it to reason across huge codebases and multimodal inputs. Gemini CLI extends this power to developers’ terminals, with a generous daily usage limit.

Let’s take a closer look at what sets Gemini apart.

What makes Gemini Code Assist different?#

Unlike other tools focusing mostly on code generation, Gemini Code Assist integrates deeply into Google’s cloud and app ecosystem.

Key features:

• Built on Gemini 2.5: A powerful model offering a 1 million token context window for more accurate, context-aware assistance.

• IDE awareness: Gemini reads your opened files to generate smart, real-time suggestions tailored to your active code.

• Project-wide intelligence: It goes beyond the current file and understands your project’s structure, configuration files, and documentation.

• Multimodal support: Operates across text, spreadsheets, and presentations via Workspace integrations for seamless cross-tool collaboration.

• Deep integration with Google Cloud: Understands services like Firestore, BigQuery, and App Engine, offering relevant code snippets and configurations.

• Enterprise-grade security and features: Includes IP indemnification, private repo grounding, compliance tools, and secure connectivity options.

• Firebase and Cloud Shell integration: This provides end-to-end support—from front-end development to deployment—using Firebase services and a free, pre-configured environment via Google Cloud Shell Editor.

• Colab Enterprise support: Gemini is fully integrated into Colab Enterprise notebooks, offering inline code completion, code generation, error explanations, and chat directly in Python notebooks.

• Google Colab Data Science Agent: The Gemini-powered agent can generate complete, functional notebooks from natural‑language prompts, which is great for data science workflows.

Getting started with Gemini Code Assist#

Ready to dive into coding with Gemini Code Assist? Whether you prefer the browser or your favorite IDE, Google has made it surprisingly easy to plug in Gemini and start building.

For this guide, let’s use VS Code, one of the most commonly used IDEs. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough to help you get started.

Using Gemini Code Assist in VS Code#

Do you prefer working locally in VS Code? That’s no problem—Gemini works well with a little setup in VS Code.

Step-by-step guide:#

1. Install the Gemini extension

   1. Open your VS Code.

   2. Go to the “Extensions” tab or use the shortcut “Ctrl+Shift+X” (or “Cmd+Shift+X” on Mac).

   3. Type “Gemini Code Assist” in the search bar.

   4. Open the “Gemini Code Assist” extension.

   5. Click the “Install” button.

2. Sign in with Google:

   1. After installation, you can sign in using your Google account.

   2. Approve any permission requests to connect to Google Cloud services.

3. Configure for your project:

   1. Gemini works best when it understands your context.

   2. If you’re using Google Cloud (BigQuery, Cloud Functions, etc.), connect your VS Code to your GCP project using the Cloud Code extension.

4. Start coding with Gemini:

   1. As you type, you’ll see real-time suggestions.

   2. Use the command palette (Ctrl+I), where you get options like:

      1. Generating code

      2. Fixing errors

      3. Code explanations

Code generation using Gemini#

Gemini Code Assist truly shines when you’re working with existing codebases and want to enhance functionality with minimal effort. Here’s a quick demonstration using a simple calculator app in Python.

Let’s take a simple example and say you’ve already written a basic calculator code in Python that supports add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Now, you want to add support for modulus (%). Instead of manually coding the function, you can use Gemini to generate it smartly.

Let’s extend our calculator with a modulus operation. Here are multiple ways to do that using a comment-driven prompt:

Add the comment prompt in the code#

Simply insert a descriptive comment where you want Gemini to act.

This comment serves as a natural language prompt for Gemini to understand what you’re asking it to do.

After adding the comment, press the “control+return” key in macOS or “Ctrl+Enter” in Windows, and Gemini will start generating code based on your comment prompt. After generating the code, just press the tab key to accept it.

There are many other ways to use Gemini to generate codes for you in VS Code:

Trigger the Gemini command palette#

Press Command + I (on macOS) or Ctrl + I (on Windows) to bring up the Gemini Code Assist Smart Action menu.

From here, you can choose from options like:

• Generate new code

• Fix errors

• Explain this

• Generate unit tests

Select the “Generate new code” option. Gemini will generate the corresponding code snippet, which you can review and then accept or decline.

Use the lightbulb menu (Inline context menu)#

Another way to trigger Gemini is by clicking the “lightbulb” icon next to your comment.
When clicked, it gives you options like:

• Gemini: Generate code

• Gemini: Explain this

• Gemini: Generate unit tests

Accept the suggested code#

Gemini will auto-generate the modulus function directly under your comment, understanding the context and structure of your file.

You can accept the suggestion by pressing the “Tab” button or clicking “Accept” in the inline suggestion box.

Using Gemini Code Assist: Chat#

You can also use Gemini to make the required changes in the rest of the code similarly, or even better and faster, use the “Gemini Code Assist: Chat,” just give it a prompt and accept its suggestions to make the changes in the whole code in one go.

Boom! Now you have the whole code updated to have the modulus functionality with just one command.

Did you know? – There’s a full-fledged AI Chat in your IDE!

Gemini Code Assist isn’t just for generating code—you can chat with it like a normal AI assistant, asking it questions, asking for explanations, or troubleshooting bugs conversationally. Just open the Gemini pane in your IDE (VS Code, IntelliJ, Cloud Shell, etc.), type something like “What does this code do?” or “How do I fix this bug?” and it’ll respond in plain language, using your code context to give relevant guidance.

Gemini lets you create up to 20 independent chat threads inside your IDE. Each thread holds its context, so you can work on multiple problems simultaneously without mixing them up.

With the Gemini 2.5 update (rolled out in mid-June 2025), the chat experience got smarter at tackling complex codebases and tricky bugs, delivering more insightful and relevant guidance in your IDE chat pane.

Autocompletion: Smarter typing with Gemini#

Gemini Code Assist in VS Code provides intelligent autocomplete that goes beyond standard suggestions. It understands what you’re trying to build, reads the surrounding context, and intelligently completes your code, even entire function bodies.

Here’s a live example from a basic calculator app where we want to add a new modulus() function.

Fixing and understanding code with Gemini#

Gemini Code Assist isn’t just for writing, generating, and refactoring code—it’s also great at fixing errors and helping you understand code without leaving your editor.

Fixing errors with /fix#

When your code contains issues (e.g., syntax errors, undefined variables), Gemini can automatically suggest fixes:

How to trigger:

1. Hover over or click the red squiggly (error indicator).

2. Choose “Quick Fix,” then select “/fix” from the Gemini menu.

3. Gemini generates a diff view showing the suggested changes.

4. Click “Accept” to apply the fix in one click.

This feature is ideal for correcting errors without browsing docs or manually searching.

Explaining code with Explain#

Want help understanding unfamiliar or complex code? Gemini can summarize it inline:

How to use:

1. Highlight the block or function you want explained.

2. Use the “lightbulb” menu or press Ctrl+I (Windows) / Command+I (Mac).

3. Select the “Explain this” option.

4. This will open the Gemini Code Assist: Chat, just press the send arrow.

5. The detailed explanation and other relevant prompts appear.

This works seamlessly for your code and third-party snippets—no context switching is required.

Tips to get the most out of Gemini#

Using Gemini is easy. Mastering it takes a few smart habits, like:

• Use comment-driven prompts: Write clear, concise comments to guide code suggestions.
  Example: # Create a responsive navigation bar with a drop-down menu

• Ask for explanations: Highlight code and ask Gemini to explain—it’s like having a built-in tutor.

• Refactor confidently: Use Gemini to optimize even working code for clarity and performance.

• Use Gemini for learning: Ask it to explain or guide you through tasks like:

  • Writing Dijkstra’s algorithm in Python

  • Converting JavaScript to TypeScript

  • Writing unit tests for Express routes

• Protect sensitive data: Avoid pasting secrets, credentials, or API keys—always sanitize your inputs.

Gemini beyond VS Code: Expanding your workflow#

Apart from VS Code, Gemini Code Assist also works across other popular IDEs and platforms:

• JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, etc.)

• Android Studio

• Google Cloud Workstations

• Application Integration (build flows with AI support)

• BigQuery (context-aware SQL generation)

• Colab Enterprise (Python notebooks)

• Apigee (API design and documentation)

• Cloud Run (contextual code suggestions in deployment)

These integrations make Gemini a full-stack assistant, from local development to cloud-native services.

Note: Note: The keyboard shortcuts mentioned in this blog may vary depending on your IDE, operating system, or the platform where you’re using Gemini Code Assist. Check your environment’s specific key mappings for the most accurate experience.

Prototype with a no-cost environment: Google Cloud Shell editor#

The Google Cloud Shell Editor is a fantastic option to try Gemini without setting up a local environment. It provides:

• A fully configured cloud-based IDE

• Gemini Code Assist pre-installed

• 50 hours per week of free usage

It’s perfect for testing, prototyping, or learning without installing anything.

Plans and pricing#

As of June 2025, Gemini Code Assist is available in three tiers. Here is an overview at a glance:

Each tier supports multi-IDE integration, code generation, source citations, and contextual code assistance.

Apart from prices, here are other differences:

Individual plan#

The Individual plan is perfect for students, hobbyists, and solo developers exploring AI-powered coding. It offers essential features such as code completion and generation across popular IDEs (VS Code, JetBrains, Cloud Shell), inline chat for debugging and explanations, basic Firebase support, and integrations with BigQuery and Colab Enterprise. Users also receive access to the Gemini CLI preview, including agent mode, with a generous daily request limit—currently the highest among free-tier tools.

Standard plan#

The Standard plan builds on all Individual features by adding enterprise-ready capabilities suitable for teams. Developers receive increased usage limits and vital security measures such as IP indemnification, VPC-SC, and Private Google Access. They also get enhanced support for Firebase diagnostics, database development tools, deep integrations with BigQuery and Cloud Run, and expanded Colab Enterprise assistance. These enhancements make Standard more robust for professional workflows.

Enterprise plan#

The Enterprise plan includes every feature from Standard and deeply extends them to meet organizational needs. Gemini is enabled to tailor suggestions using private code repositories (like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket) and integrates seamlessly with advanced Google Cloud services such as Apigee, Application Integration, and Gemini Cloud Assist. It also provides sandboxed environments, enterprise context in API design, flow automation, and the highest usage limits, designed for complex, large-scale development teams.

Final thoughts#

Gemini Code Assist isn’t just another autocomplete tool. It’s part of a broader movement transforming how we write software, from daily tasks to enterprise-scale development. By deeply integrating with Google Cloud, offering multimodal support, and being context-aware across files and services, Gemini is more than a productivity boost—it’s a smarter way to code.

AI is reshaping how we write code. From simple scripts to sprawling systems, Gemini Code Assist is your edge, and it’s evolving fast.