Introduction Software development often involves tasks that aren’t contained within a single function or file. Whether you’re refactoring a service layer, implementing a new API endpoint that requires changes from the database to the router, or updating dependencies across a monorepo, context is everything. Standard AI chat assistants are great for snippets, but Gemini Code Assist’s Agent Mode is designed for the big picture. It doesn’t just suggest code; it plans and executes changes across your entire workspace.

Introduction In my previous post, we explored how Gemini Code Assist’s Agent Mode can handle multi-file refactors. However, an agent is only as good as the instructions it follows. Without guidance, AI might generate code that works but violates your team’s architectural standards. To solve this, Gemini supports a special file: GEMINI.md. Think of this as the “System Prompt” for your entire repository. What is GEMINI.md? The GEMINI.md file is a Markdown document placed in your project’s root.