Quickstart: Gemini CLI

Gemini CLI is an agent, not a chat box — it runs tools in your terminal. Pipeworx ships an official extension, so setup is one command and routing is automatic.

① Connect

Install the official extension — one command, and routing is automatic:

gemini extensions install https://github.com/pipeworx-io/gemini-cli-extension

Or just ask Gemini CLI to do it — “Install the Pipeworx extension: gemini extensions install https://github.com/pipeworx-io/gemini-cli-extension” — it runs the command for you. (Prefer the extension over a bare gemini mcp add — the extension also ships the auto-routing GEMINI.md.)

That registers the Pipeworx MCP connection and exposes ~38 tools. The hero tool is ask_pipeworx({question}) — it routes your question to the full catalog of 5,929 tools across 1,544 sources at runtime, so the agent doesn’t carry thousands of definitions in context.

Note: The consumer Gemini app now supports custom MCP servers too, via Gemini Spark — gemini.google.com → Settings & help → Connected Apps → Custom apps for Spark → Add a custom app, then paste https://pipeworx.io/mcp. It is narrowly gated: personal Google Account only (not work/school), 18+, US, English, Spark access, and Keep Activity must be on. If you don’t clear all of those, use the CLI below — it has no such restrictions.

② Teach it to use Pipeworx

Automatic — the extension ships a GEMINI.md that tells Gemini to prefer ask_pipeworx. There’s nothing to paste; the routing instruction is bundled.

③ Test

From any directory, run Gemini CLI and ask:

Using Pipeworx, what was the US unemployment rate last month?

Gemini should call ask_pipeworx and return the current rate. Your confirmation that it routed to live data rather than memory is the _meta.provenance block in the response: it names the publisher — FRED or BLS, depending on which source the question routes to — and the upstream request that makes the figure checkable at that publisher. Seeing that block confirms the extension is live and routing.

Higher limits

The extension’s default connection is the anonymous tier: 50 calls/day per IP, no signup. For more:

  • API key — 200/day: point the connection at https://pipeworx.io/mcp?apikey=YOUR_KEY. Sign up, then grab your key at pipeworx.io/account.
  • Sign in — 200/day: use https://gateway.pipeworx.io/oauth/mcp; the client shows a Connect button — authorize with GitHub. If no Connect prompt appears in your build, use the API-key URL above instead.
  • Paid — unlimited: upgrade from your account page.

Tiers at a glance: anonymous 50 · free account 200 · Paid unlimited.

Troubleshooting

gemini extensions install fails. Confirm you’re on a current Gemini CLI build that supports extensions, and that the GitHub URL is reachable.

Trying to connect from the Gemini app. The app path exists now but is gated (see the note in step ① — personal account, 18+, US, English, Spark, Keep Activity on). If “Custom apps for Spark” isn’t in your Connected Apps, you don’t qualify; use the CLI.

Agent answers from memory. The bundled GEMINI.md handles routing; if it’s ignored, reinstall the extension to ensure the file is in place.

Rate-limited. You hit the 50/day anonymous cap. Use ?apikey=YOUR_KEY (from a free account) for 200/day.

Last reviewed September 7, 2026