Gemini CLI

1M Context × Gemini CLI: Claude Code Deep Codebase Research

Non-Interactive Mode · Free Tier · Complete Repository Analysis in One Go

Overview

Based on Ian Nuttall's tweet, we can leverage Claude Code's massive 1 million token context window with Gemini CLI to perform comprehensive codebase analysis. This approach allows you to feed entire repositories to Claude Code and receive detailed insights about architecture, dependencies, potential bugs, and refactoring opportunities - all in a single analysis run.

Setup

First, ensure you have Gemini CLI installed globally:

$ npm install -g gemini-cli

Non-Interactive Analysis Command

Use Gemini CLI's non-interactive mode to analyze your entire codebase with a predefined prompt:

$ gemini run --model=claude-code --prompt-file=analyze.md ./src

This command will read all files in ./src and process them with Claude Code using your custom prompt.

Prompt File Example

Create an analyze.md file with your analysis instructions:

// analyze.md
Please review the following codebase and provide a comprehensive analysis including:

1. **Architecture Overview**: Describe the overall structure and design patterns
2. **Module Dependencies**: Map out how different modules interact with each other  
3. **Potential Issues**: Identify bugs, code smells, or architectural problems
4. **Refactoring Opportunities**: Suggest improvements for code quality and maintainability
5. **Security Considerations**: Highlight any potential security vulnerabilities
6. **Performance Insights**: Note any performance bottlenecks or optimization opportunities

Format your response as a structured JSON report with clear sections for each area of analysis.

Output Examples

The CLI will generate comprehensive JSON reports covering:

  • Module Dependencies: Visual dependency graphs and import/export analysis
  • Potential Bugs: Type errors, null pointer risks, and logic issues
  • Refactoring Suggestions: Code duplication removal and pattern improvements
  • Security Vulnerabilities: Input validation issues and data exposure risks
  • Performance Bottlenecks: Inefficient algorithms and resource usage
  • Architecture Insights: Design pattern adherence and structural recommendations

Best Practices

  • 📊Split Large Repositories: Break down repos larger than 500K tokens into smaller chunks for optimal analysis
  • 🔧Use Deterministic Settings: Add --temperature 0 for consistent, reproducible analysis results
  • 📝Customize Prompts: Tailor your analysis prompts to focus on specific concerns like security or performance
  • 💾Save Results: Redirect output to files for later review and team sharing
$ gemini run --model=claude-code --temperature 0 --prompt-file=analyze.md ./src >  analysis-report.json

Original Tweet

This guide is inspired by Ian Nuttall's tweet about leveraging Claude Code's massive context window:

IN
Ian Nuttall
@iannuttall

"Just discovered Claude Code's 1M token context window is perfect for comprehensive codebase analysis. Using Gemini CLI in non-interactive mode, I can now feed entire repositories and get detailed insights about architecture, dependencies, and refactoring opportunities in one go. Game changer for code reviews! 🚀"

Dec 24, 2024View on X