Mastering the Terminal Agent in Google Antigravity

The Terminal Agent is one of Antigravity's most powerful features. It can execute commands, run scripts, and automate DevOps tasks—all autonomously.

This guide shows you how to use it effectively.

What is the Terminal Agent?

The Terminal Agent is an AI that can:
* Execute shell commands
* Run build scripts
* Install dependencies
* Deploy applications
* Monitor processes
* Debug errors

It's like having a DevOps engineer on call 24/7.

Activating the Terminal Agent

Method 1: From Mission Control

1. Open Mission Control (`Cmd+Shift+M`)
2. Click “New Agent”
3. Select “Terminal Agent”
4. Enter task description
5. Click “Spawn”

Method 2: From Terminal Panel

1. Open Terminal panel (`Ctrl+` `)
2. Click the “AI” icon
3. Enter command in natural language
4. Press Enter

Basic Usage

Example 1: Installing Dependencies

Prompt:
> “Install all npm dependencies and run the development server”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash
npm install
npm run dev
“`

Example 2: Running Tests

Prompt:
> “Run all tests and show me the coverage report”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash
npm test — –coverage
“`

Example 3: Git Operations

Prompt:
> “Commit all changes with message ‘Add user authentication' and push to main branch”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash
git add .
git commit -m “Add user authentication”
git push origin main
“`

Advanced Usage

Example 1: Complex Build Process

Prompt:
> “Build the production bundle, optimize images, and deploy to Vercel”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash
npm run build
npm run optimize-images
vercel –prod
“`

Example 2: Database Migration

Prompt:
> “Run database migrations and seed the database with test data”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash
npx prisma migrate deploy
npx prisma db seed
“`

Example 3: Debugging

Prompt:
> “The app is crashing. Check the logs and identify the error”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash
tail -n 100 /var/log/app.log

Analyzes logs

Reports: “Error: Port 3000 is already in use”

“`

Safety Features

1. Confirmation for Destructive Commands

Before running dangerous commands, the Terminal Agent asks for confirmation:

Prompt:
> “Delete all node_modules folders”

Terminal Agent:
> ⚠️ This command will delete files. Confirm? (y/n)

2. Dry Run Mode

Test commands without executing:

Prompt:
> “Show me what commands you would run to deploy this app (dry run)”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash

DRY RUN – Not executed

npm run build
vercel –prod
“`

3. Rollback

If a command causes issues, rollback:

Prompt:
> “Undo the last deployment”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash
vercel rollback
“`

Automation Workflows

Workflow 1: CI/CD Pipeline

Prompt:
> “Create a workflow that runs on every commit:
> 1. Run linter
> 2. Run tests
> 3. Build production bundle
> 4. Deploy if all pass”

Terminal Agent creates:
“`bash
#!/bin/bash
set -e # Exit on error

echo “Running linter…”
npm run lint

echo “Running tests…”
npm test

echo “Building…”
npm run build

echo “Deploying…”
vercel –prod

echo “✅ Deployment successful!”
“`

Workflow 2: Database Backup

Prompt:
> “Create a daily database backup script”

Terminal Agent creates:
“`bash
#!/bin/bash
DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
pg_dump mydb > backups/db_$DATE.sql
echo “Backup created: db_$DATE.sql”
“`

Monitoring and Alerts

Example: Monitor Server Health

Prompt:
> “Monitor the server. Alert me if CPU usage exceeds 80% or memory exceeds 90%”

Terminal Agent:
“`bash
while true; do
CPU=$(top -bn1 | grep “Cpu(s)” | awk ‘{print $2}')
MEM=$(free | grep Mem | awk ‘{print ($3/$2) * 100}')

if (( $(echo “$CPU > 80” | bc -l) )); then
echo “⚠️ High CPU: $CPU%”
fi

if (( $(echo “$MEM > 90” | bc -l) )); then
echo “⚠️ High Memory: $MEM%”
fi

sleep 60
done
“`

Integration with Other Agents

Scenario: Full-Stack Deployment

Agents Working Together:
1. Builder Agent: Writes code
2. Tester Agent: Runs tests
3. Terminal Agent: Deploys if tests pass

Terminal Agent Prompt:
> “Wait for Tester Agent to finish. If all tests pass, deploy to production.”

Best Practices

1. Be Specific

Bad: “Fix the app”
Good: “Restart the Node.js server and clear the cache”

2. Use Dry Run First

For unfamiliar commands, use dry run to see what will execute.

3. Review Before Confirming

Always review destructive commands before confirming.

4. Save Common Workflows

Save frequently-used command sequences as workflows.

5. Monitor Long-Running Commands

For commands that take >1 minute, monitor progress in Mission Control.

Troubleshooting

Issue: Command Fails

Solution:
> “The command failed. Show me the error and suggest a fix.”

Issue: Permission Denied

Solution:
> “Run the last command with sudo”

Issue: Command Hangs

Solution:
Click “Stop” in Mission Control to kill the process.

Conclusion

The Terminal Agent transforms command-line work from tedious to effortless. You describe what you want, and it handles the execution.

At BYS Marketing, we use the Terminal Agent for all our DevOps tasks. It's saved us countless hours of manual command execution.

—

Want to automate your DevOps?
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