How to Use Gemini 2.5 Flash with Cursor & Cline

Learn to use Gemini 2.5 Flash with Cursor & Cline in this guide! Code a Python factorial function with AI. My takes: fast and easy!

Ashley Goolam

Ashley Goolam

25 April 2025

How to Use Gemini 2.5 Flash with Cursor & Cline

Hey, there! Ready to turbocharge your coding with Gemini 2.5 Flash, Google’s shiny new AI model, right inside Cursor and Cline? I set up Gemini 2.5 Flash on my local machine and trust me—it’s like having a coding guru whispering brilliant ideas in your ear. In this beginner’s guide, I’ll guide you through installing and using Gemini 2.5 Flash with Cursor and Cline to whip up awesome code, with a simple example: writing a Python function to calculate a factorial. No brain-bending tech jargon needed—just a little excitement! Let’s make Gemini 2.5 Flash, Cursor, and Cline your coding superheroes!

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What is Gemini 2.5 Flash with Cursor & Cline?

Gemini 2.5 Flash is Google’s latest AI model, launched in 2025, optimized for speed and efficiency in coding, text generation, and reasoning tasks. Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on VS Code, with a chat interface and Composer for seamless code creation. Cline is a VS Code extension that acts as an autonomous coding agent, editing files and executing tasks. Together, they let Gemini 2.5 Flash power your coding, from generating functions to fixing bugs. Since both tools directly support Gemini 2.5 Flash, setup is a breeze. Let’s get it running and code a factorial function!

gemini 2.5 flush

Setting Up Your Environment: The Basics

Before we unleash Gemini 2.5 Flash in Cursor and Cline, let’s get your system ready. This is super beginner-friendly, with each step explained so you’re never lost.

Check Prerequisites

Make sure you have these tools installed:

Missing anything? Install it now to avoid bumps down the road.

Install Cursor: If you’re using Cursor, download it from cursor.com for macOS, Windows, or Linux. Install and launch it—it’s a VS Code-inspired editor with AI magic built in.

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Create a Project Folder

Let’s keep things organized:

mkdir gemini-coding
cd gemini-coding

This folder will house your Gemini 2.5 Flash projects, and cd sets you up for action.

Set Up a Virtual Environment

To keep Cline’s dependencies tidy, create a Python virtual environment:

python -m venv venv

Activate it:

The (venv) prompt in your terminal means you’re in a clean Python environment, preventing conflicts with other projects.

Open in Cursor or VS Code

Launch your editor:

code .  # For VS Code

Or open Cursor manually. This preps your workspace for coding with Gemini 2.5 Flash.

Installing Cline and Dependencies

Let’s get Cline set up in VS Code to work with Gemini 2.5 Flash, along with any dependencies needed for our test.

Install Cline Extension: In VS Code:

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Install Python Dependencies: While our test doesn’t need extra packages, let’s install a basic dependency for future Gemini 2.5 Flash projects:

pip install requests

The requests library is handy for API-based tasks, though our factorial example won’t use it. This ensures your environment is ready for more complex coding later.

Verify VS Code Setup: Check that Cline appears in the VS Code sidebar (a chat-like icon). If it’s missing, restart VS Code and confirm the extension is enabled in the Extensions view.

Configuring Gemini 2.5 Flash with Cursor & Cline

Great news—both Cursor and Cline directly support Gemini 2.5 Flash, so we just need a Google API key and a few clicks to set it up. Let’s configure both tools to unleash Gemini 2.5 Flash's coding powers.

Get a Google API Key

To use Gemini 2.5 Flash, you’ll need an API key from Google:

google ai

Configure Cursor with Gemini 2.5 Flash:

cursor gemini setup

Configure Cline with Gemini 2.5 Flash:

cline gemini setup

Understand Gemini 2.5 Flash Pricing

Using Gemini 2.5 Flash involves costs, so let’s break it down based on Google’s pricing:

Free Tier Perks: Good news—Gemini 2.5 Flash offers a free tier! Input and output tokens are free of charge, making it perfect for testing. You also get grounding with Google Search for free, up to 500 requests per day (RPD). This means you can experiment with prompts in Cursor and Cline without spending a dime, as long as you stay within these limits.

Paid Tier Costs: If you go beyond the free tier, here’s what you’ll pay per 1M tokens (in USD):

To save costs, use concise prompts and check your Google Cloud dashboard for usage. If you’re on a tight budget, stick to simple tasks to stay within free credits.

Set Environment Variables (Optional)

For scripts or to avoid hardcoding API keys, add your Google API key to your shell profile (e.g., ~/.zshrc on Mac/Linux):

export GOOGLE_API_KEY="your-google-api-key"

Reload with source ~/.zshrc. This keeps your key secure and ready for future Gemini 2.5 Flash projects.

Testing Gemini 2.5 Flash in Cursor & Cline

Let’s test Gemini 2.5 Flash in Cursor and Cline with a simple task: “Write a Python function to calculate the factorial of a number.” This keeps things easy, showcasing Gemini 2.5 Flash's coding skills without complex steps.

Test in Cursor:

def factorial(n):
    if n < 0:
        raise ValueError("Factorial is not defined for negative numbers")
    if n == 0 or n == 1:
        return 1
    return n * factorial(n - 1)
print(factorial(5))  # Outputs: 120

Test in Cline:

print(factorial(5))  # Outputs: 120
python factorial.py

Understand the Test Results: The factorial function is a perfect test—it’s simple but demonstrates Gemini 2.5 Flash's ability to produce correct, recursive code. The output 120 confirms the model understood the task. If you see errors, ensure Cursor or Cline is using Gemini 2.5 Flash and your API key has credits.

Tips for Using Gemini 2.5 Flash Effectively

To get the most out of Gemini 2.5 Flash in Cursor and Cline:

My Takes on Gemini 2.5 Flash with Cursor & Cline

After playing with Gemini 2.5 Flash, here’s my vibe:

If you hit issues, double-check your API key and model selection in Cursor or Cline.

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Wrapping Up: Your Gemini 2.5 Flash Coding Adventure

Congrats—you’ve unlocked Gemini 2.5 Flash in Cursor and Cline, making your coding sessions pure magic! From whipping up a factorial function to tackling bigger projects, you’re set to shine. Try generating a web scraper or debugging code next. And for more, check Google’s Gemini API docs, and keep rocking with Gemini 2.5 Flash, Cursor, and Cline!

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