Getting started with Google Antigravity
In this codelab you'll install Google Antigravity — an AI-powered IDE built by Google — sign in with your Google account, and take a quick tour of its key features. Available on both Windows and macOS.
What you'll use
- Google Antigravity — A next-generation AI-powered IDE with built-in agents, tab completion, and cross-surface workflows. Learn more →
- Gemini — Google's family of AI models that powers Antigravity's code suggestions, chat, and agent capabilities. Learn more →
Antigravity vs. Gemini — what's the difference?
Gemini is the AI model — it understands and generates code. Antigravity is the IDE — the application where you write, edit, and run your code. Think of Gemini as the brain and Antigravity as the workspace that puts that brain to work for you.
Alternatives worth knowing about
Antigravity isn't the only AI-powered coding tool. Here are some popular alternatives — most offer limited free tiers, with full features requiring a paid plan:
- •Cursor — AI-first code editor with chat, autocomplete, and agentic features. Free tier available; paid plans for full use.
- •GitHub Copilot — GitHub's AI pair programmer that works inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. Free tier available; paid plans for heavier usage.
- •Windsurf — AI IDE by Codeium with inline suggestions and an autonomous agent. Free tier available; paid plans unlock more.
- •Claude Code — Anthropic's terminal-based AI coding agent. Requires a paid API plan.
1Prerequisites — Google account
Antigravity uses your Google account for sign-in, so you'll need one before getting started.
💡 Already have one? If you already use Gmail, YouTube, or Google Drive, you're all set — you already have a Google account.
If you need to create a Google account:
- Go to accounts.google.com
- Fill in your name, choose a username and password.
- Complete the verification steps — your account is ready.
2Download & install Antigravity
Antigravity is available for both Windows and macOS.
- Visit the download page at antigravity.google/download
- Choose the installer for your operating system and run it.
- Open Antigravity once the installation is complete.
🪟 Windows
Requires Windows 10 (64-bit) or later. Run the downloaded .exe installer and follow the prompts.
🍎 macOS
Requires macOS 12 (Monterey) or later. Choose Apple Silicon or Intel based on your Mac. Drag the app to your Applications folder.
3Sign in with Google
When you first open Antigravity, you'll be prompted to sign in.
- Click "Sign in with Google" on the welcome screen.
- A browser window will open — sign in with your Google account.
- Authorize the app and return to Antigravity.
You should now see the main editor view — you're signed in and ready to go.
4Quick tour
Here are the three main areas you'll use in Antigravity:
- •Editor — Write and edit code with AI-powered tab completion and inline suggestions.
- •Agent — An AI assistant that can autonomously work across your editor, terminal, and browser.
- •Agent Manager — A mission control view to manage multiple agents and workspaces in parallel.
📖 Docs: For a full walkthrough of all features, visit the official documentation at antigravity.google/docs
5Try the chat
Now that Antigravity is set up, let's try talking to the AI. Open the chat panel and type a simple question.
Try asking:
Gemini will respond right inside Antigravity with a clear explanation. This is the same AI that powers code suggestions and the agent — you can ask it questions, get code examples, or have it explain concepts at any time.
A few more things you can ask:
- •"What is the difference between HTML and CSS?"
- •"Write a Python function that adds two numbers"
- •"Explain what an API is in simple terms"
💡 Pro Tip: If you ever run into an error while working in Antigravity, just paste the error message into the chat and ask Gemini to help you fix it. It can read your code, understand the context, and suggest a solution — often in seconds.
6What's next
Now that you have Antigravity ready, here are some great next steps:
🐙 Set up GitHub
Track your code with Git and host it online — Getting started with GitHub
🌐 Host a static website
Turn a GitHub repo into a free website — Use GitHub Pages to host a static website
📖 Lesson: Learn how websites work end-to-end in our Create your own website lesson.
You're all set!
Google Antigravity is installed and ready to use. You've already had your first conversation with Gemini — keep exploring and asking questions as you learn!
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