Google Antigravity: The Ultimate Guide to Agent-First Development in 2025

The AI coding landscape just got turned upside down. Google's Antigravity isn't just another code completion tool—it's a paradigm shift in how we think about software development. Launched alongside Gemini 3 in November 2025, this free agentic development platform is already making waves among developers worldwide.

In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about Google Antigravity: from its revolutionary agent-first architecture to advanced customization techniques that will supercharge your development workflow.

1. What is Google Antigravity?

Google Antigravity is an agentic development platform that evolves the traditional IDE into an agent-first experience. Unlike standard coding assistants that just autocomplete lines, Antigravity provides a "Mission Control" for managing autonomous agents that can plan, code, and even browse the web to help you build.

"We want Antigravity to be your home base for the era of agents. It treats learning as a core primitive, allowing agents to save useful context and code snippets to a knowledge base to improve future tasks." — Google Developers Blog

The Core Philosophy

Antigravity is designed as an "agent-first" platform. It presupposes that the AI is not just a tool for writing code but an autonomous actor capable of:

• Planning complex engineering tasks
• Executing multi-step workflows
• Validating results through browser testing
• Iterating with minimal human intervention

This moves the developer's role from that of someone filling out code snippets to an "architect" or "manager" orchestrating a workforce of digital agents.

2. Key Features That Set It Apart

🚀 Powered by Gemini 3 Pro

Antigravity comes with Google's most advanced AI model optimized for coding:

• WebDev Arena Score: 1487 Elo (top of the leaderboard)
• SWE-bench Verified: 76.2% (outperforming competitors)
• Terminal-Bench 2.0: 54.2% for tool use ability
• Context Window: Up to 2 million tokens

🎯 Multi-Agent Orchestration

The standout feature is the ability to run multiple AI agents simultaneously:

• Dispatch up to 5 different agents working on different tasks
• One agent refactors backend while another handles frontend CSS
• A third agent can generate unit tests concurrently
• All managed from a centralized "Mission Control" dashboard

🌐 Built-in Browser Automation

Unlike Cursor or Windsurf, Antigravity includes browser control capabilities:

• Agents can launch Chrome and test applications
• Automated UI verification without manual testing
• Web scraping and data extraction capabilities
• Video recordings of browser sessions for verification

📋 Verifiable Artifacts

Every agent produces tangible deliverables:

• Task Plans: Structured breakdown of work
• Implementation Plans: Detailed code strategies
• Code Diffs: Exact changes visualized
• Screenshots & Videos: UI state documentation
• Walkthroughs: Step-by-step completion reports

💰 100% Free (During Preview)

While Cursor costs $20/month and Windsurf Pro is $10/month, Antigravity is completely free during the public preview with generous rate limits on Gemini 3 Pro usage.

3. Understanding the Agent-First Architecture

The conceptual shift from traditional IDEs to Antigravity can be visualized as follows:

Traditional IDE Workflow

Developer → Write Code → Test → Debug → Repeat
     ↑___________________________|

Antigravity Agentic Workflow

Developer → Define Objective → Multiple Agents
                                    ↓
                    ┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
                    ↓               ↓               ↓
               Agent 1          Agent 2         Agent 3
            (Backend API)    (Frontend UI)   (Unit Tests)
                    ↓               ↓               ↓
                    └───────────────┼───────────────┘
                                    ↓
                         Artifacts & Verification
                                    ↓
                          Developer Review

The Four Pillars of Antigravity

4. Getting Started: Installation and Setup

System Requirements

• macOS: 12+ (Monterey or later)
• Windows: 10 64-bit or later
• Linux: glibc >= 2.28 (Ubuntu 20+, Debian 10+, Fedora 36+)
• Personal Gmail account (required for preview access)

Installation Steps

1. Visit antigravity.google/download
2. Download the installer for your operating system
3. Run the installer and launch Antigravity
4. Sign in with your personal Gmail account

Initial Configuration: Agent Autonomy Settings

During setup, you'll choose how much autonomy to give the agent:

💡 Pro Tip: Start with "Agent-Assisted Development" to find the right balance between automation and control.

5. Mastering the Agent Manager

The Agent Manager is your "Mission Control" dashboard—the command center for orchestrating multiple agents.

Interface Components

• Inbox: Track all conversations and agent tasks in one place
• Workspaces: Manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Playground: Quick experimentation area (can convert to workspace later)
• Model Selection: Choose between Gemini 3 Pro, Claude Sonnet 4.5, or GPT-OSS

Agent Modes

Planning Mode (Default)

The agent creates detailed plans before executing:

• Deep research and analysis
• Organized task groups
• Production of comprehensive artifacts
• Best for complex, multi-step tasks

Fast Mode

Direct execution without extensive planning:

• Quick fixes and simple tasks
• Variable renaming
• Running bash commands
• Best when speed is crucial

Spawning Multiple Agents

The revolutionary feature of Antigravity is running agents in parallel:

// Example: Spawning multiple tasks simultaneously

Task 1: "Refactor the authentication module"
Task 2: "Update the dependency tree"  
Task 3: "Generate a test suite for the billing API"
Task 4: "Fix the CSS bug in the header component"
Task 5: "Create API documentation"

// Each task spawns a dedicated agent instance
// Monitor all from the Agent Manager dashboard

6. Editor View: Familiar Yet Powerful

The Editor View retains VS Code's familiarity while adding AI superpowers.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

AI-Powered Features

1. Smart Auto-Complete

Context-aware code suggestions that understand your entire codebase:

# Type: def calculate_
# Antigravity suggests:
def calculate_compound_interest(principal, rate, time, n=12):
    """Calculate compound interest with configurable compounding frequency."""
    return principal * (1 + rate/n) ** (n * time)

2. Tab to Import

Automatic import suggestions for missing dependencies:

# Using pandas without import
df = pd.DataFrame(data)  
# Press Tab → adds: import pandas as pd

3. Tab to Jump

Intelligent cursor positioning to the next logical location in code.

4. Inline Commands

Natural language commands within the editor:

# Press Cmd + I, type: "add error handling for network requests"
# Agent modifies current function with try-catch blocks

5. Explain and Fix

Hover over any error and select "Explain and Fix" for instant resolution:

# TypeError: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined
# Agent explains: "The array is undefined when accessed"
# Agent fixes: Adds null check before .map() call

7. Browser Integration: The Game Changer

This is where Antigravity truly differentiates itself from competitors.

Setting Up Browser Agent

1. Start a conversation that requires web interaction
2. Agent prompts for browser setup
3. Install the Chrome extension
4. Grant necessary permissions

Browser Agent Capabilities

• DOM Manipulation: Read and interact with page elements
• Screenshot Capture: Document UI states
• Video Recording: Record entire browser sessions
• Console Access: Read JavaScript console logs
• Form Interaction: Fill forms, click buttons, navigate

Practical Example: Automated Testing

Prompt: "Test the login flow - enter credentials, submit, 
         and verify the dashboard loads correctly"

Agent Actions:
1. Launches Chrome with your application
2. Locates email input field
3. Types test credentials
4. Clicks submit button
5. Waits for dashboard
6. Captures screenshot
7. Records video evidence
8. Reports success/failure with artifacts

Web Scraping Example

Prompt: "Visit TechCrunch, find the latest AI news articles,
         extract titles and summaries, save to JSON"

Agent Actions:
1. Opens TechCrunch
2. Navigates to AI section
3. Extracts article data
4. Formats as JSON
5. Saves to workspace

8. Advanced: Rules and Workflows

This is where power users unlock Antigravity's full potential.

Understanding Rules vs. Workflows

File Locations

# Global (all projects)
~/.gemini/GEMINI.md                    # Global rules
~/.gemini/antigravity/global_workflows/  # Global workflows

# Workspace (current project)
your-workspace/.agent/rules/           # Workspace rules
your-workspace/.agent/workflows/       # Workspace workflows

Creating Effective Rules

Example 1: Code Style Guide

# File: .agent/rules/code-style-guide.md

* Follow PEP 8 style guide for all Python code
* Use type hints for all function parameters and returns
* Maximum line length: 88 characters (Black formatter)
* All public methods must have docstrings
* Use f-strings for string formatting

Example 2: Code Generation Guide

# File: .agent/rules/code-generation-guide.md

* main.py is the entry point - keep it minimal
* Generate distinct functionality in separate files (e.g., feature_x.py)
* Create example code in main.py to showcase functionality
* Always include comprehensive error handling
* Generate unit tests alongside new features

Example 3: Security Rules

# File: .agent/rules/security.md

* Never hardcode API keys or secrets
* Use environment variables for all sensitive data
* Validate all user inputs before processing
* Use parameterized queries for database operations
* Log security-relevant events with timestamps

Creating Powerful Workflows

Workflow 1: Generate Unit Tests

# File: .agent/workflows/generate-unit-tests.md

* Analyze all modules in the current workspace
* Generate unit tests for each file and each method
* Name test files with test_ prefix
* Aim for >80% code coverage
* Include edge cases and error conditions
* Use pytest framework with fixtures

Workflow 2: Code Review

# File: .agent/workflows/code-review.md

* Analyze current workspace for:
  - Security vulnerabilities
  - Performance bottlenecks
  - Code smell and anti-patterns
  - Missing error handling
  - Documentation gaps
* Generate detailed report with severity levels
* Suggest specific fixes for each issue

Workflow 3: API Documentation

# File: .agent/workflows/generate-api-docs.md

* Scan all API endpoints in the project
* Generate OpenAPI/Swagger specification
* Create markdown documentation with:
  - Endpoint descriptions
  - Request/response examples
  - Authentication requirements
  - Error codes and handling
* Output to docs/api/ directory

Using Workflows

In the chat, type / followed by the workflow name:

/generate-unit-tests
/code-review  
/generate-api-docs

9. Security Best Practices

Giving an AI agent access to your terminal and browser requires careful security consideration.

Terminal Security

Allow List (Most Secure)

Use with Terminal Policy: Off

# Only these commands can auto-execute:
ls
cat
grep
git status
git diff
npm test
python -m pytest

Deny List (For Turbo Mode)

Block dangerous commands:

# These commands are blocked:
rm
rmdir  
sudo
curl (to unknown domains)
wget
chmod
dd
mkfs

Browser Security

Configure the Browser URL Allowlist:

# File: ~/.gemini/antigravity/browserAllowlist.txt

# Trusted domains only
localhost
127.0.0.1
your-staging-server.com
docs.google.com
github.com
stackoverflow.com

Security Recommendations

1. Start with Review-Driven mode until you trust the agent
2. Use specific allow lists rather than broad permissions
3. Never allow access to production systems without review
4. Monitor agent actions through artifacts
5. Keep browser allowlist minimal

10. Antigravity vs. Cursor vs. Windsurf

Feature Comparison Matrix

When to Choose Each

Choose Antigravity When:

• Building complex, multi-service applications
• Need to test web apps frequently
• Want agents to work autonomously
• Have a large codebase (1000+ files)
• Budget-conscious (it's free!)

Choose Cursor When:

• Speed is critical
• Prefer explicit control over AI actions
• Need battle-tested production reliability
• Love keyboard shortcuts

Choose Windsurf When:

• You're a beginner to AI coding
• Want the gentlest learning curve
• Value intuitive "Flow" mode
• Onboarding to new codebases

11. Real-World Use Cases

Use Case 1: Full-Stack Web Application

Prompt:
"Create a 1-day technical conference website with:
- Home page with schedule and timetable
- 8 talks with 1-2 speakers each
- Speaker profiles with LinkedIn links
- Search by category, speaker, or title
- Tech stack: Python Flask backend, HTML/CSS/JS frontend
- Launch the application for me to review"

Result: Complete working application in ~10 minutes

Use Case 2: Legacy Code Modernization

Prompt:
"Refactor LegacyUserProfile.js to:
- Use modern React hooks
- Split into smaller components  
- Add TypeScript types
- Include unit tests
- Maintain all existing functionality"

Result: Clean, tested, modern code with full migration

Use Case 3: Automated Documentation

Prompt:
"Analyze my entire codebase and generate:
- README with setup instructions
- API documentation with examples
- Architecture diagram
- Contributing guidelines"

Result: Professional documentation suite

Use Case 4: Bug Hunting Session

Prompt:
"Find and fix all bugs in the authentication module:
- Check for security vulnerabilities
- Fix edge cases
- Add proper error handling
- Write regression tests"

Result: Secure, robust authentication with tests

12. Pro Tips and Hidden Features

💡 Tip 1: Turbo Mode Comment

Add // turbo above commands to auto-execute without confirmation:

// turbo
npm install lodash

💡 Tip 2: Context Symbols

Use @ to include specific context:

• @filename.py - Reference specific file
• @folder/ - Include entire directory
• @docs - Reference documentation

💡 Tip 3: Artifact Comments

Leave Google Docs-style comments on any artifact to guide the agent:

On Task Plan: "Skip task 3, it's already done"
On Code: "Use async/await instead of callbacks here"
On Screenshot: "This button should be blue, not red"

💡 Tip 4: Import VS Code Settings

During setup, choose "Import from VS Code" to bring:

• Extensions
• Keybindings
• Theme preferences
• Settings

💡 Tip 5: Knowledge Base

Antigravity learns from your interactions. Teach it your preferences:

"Remember: I always use Tailwind CSS for styling"
"Remember: Our team uses ESLint with Airbnb config"
"Remember: Deploy to AWS using CDK"

💡 Tip 6: Model Selection Strategy

• Gemini 3 Pro: Complex tasks, large codebases
• Claude Sonnet 4.5: Nuanced reasoning, code review
• GPT-OSS: Quick iterations, simple tasks

💡 Tip 7: Batch Similar Tasks

Group related tasks for efficient agent processing:

Prompt:
"For all files in /components:
1. Add TypeScript types
2. Add JSDoc comments  
3. Create unit tests
4. Update imports to use aliases"

13. Conclusion: Is Antigravity Right for You?

The Bottom Line

Google Antigravity represents a genuine paradigm shift in AI-assisted development. It's not just another code completion tool—it's a platform that reimagines the developer's role from coder to architect.

Best For:

• Developers ready to embrace agent-first workflows
• Teams building complex, multi-faceted applications
• Anyone wanting to multiply their development throughput
• Budget-conscious developers (free during preview)
• Those who need browser-based testing automation

Not Ideal For:

• Developers who need maximum response speed
• Those uncomfortable with AI autonomy
• Highly regulated environments (until enterprise features mature)
• Simple projects that don't need multi-agent orchestration

My Recommendation

Try it. It's free, it's revolutionary, and it will change how you think about coding. Even if you continue using Cursor for daily work, Antigravity excels at:

• Rapid prototyping
• Complex refactoring projects
• Automated testing workflows
• Documentation generation

The future of development is agentic. Google Antigravity is giving you a free preview of that future today.

Resources

• Official Site: antigravity.google
• Documentation: antigravity.google/docs
• Download: antigravity.google/download
• Use Cases: antigravity.google/use-cases
• YouTube Channel: @googleantigravity
• Google Codelab: Getting Started Tutorial

Did you find this guide helpful? Share it with fellow developers and leave a comment below with your Antigravity experiences!

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