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:

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

That registers the Pipeworx MCP connection and exposes ~26 tools. The hero tool is ask_pipeworx({question}) — it routes your question to the full catalog of 3,365 tools across 764 sources at runtime, so the agent doesn’t carry thousands of definitions in context.

Note: The consumer Gemini app and website do not support custom MCP connectors yet — only the CLI. If you’re trying to add Pipeworx to gemini.google.com, that path doesn’t exist; use the CLI.

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:

What was the US unemployment rate last month?

Gemini should call ask_pipeworx, which routes to FRED and returns the figure with a pipeworx:// citation. Seeing that citation 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.
  • 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 consumer app/website doesn’t support custom MCP connectors — the extension only works in 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 June 6, 2026