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How to Get Started with Google Antigravity: Complete Setup Guide 2026

Step-by-step tutorial on installing and setting up Google Antigravity IDE. Learn how to configure agents, connect AI models, and start building your first project with agent-first development.

Antigravity Team
January 15, 2026
10 min read

How to Get Started with Google Antigravity: Complete Setup Guide 2026

Google Antigravity has revolutionized how developers write code with its agent-first approach. This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know to get started with Antigravity, from installation to your first AI-powered project.

What You'll Learn

  • How to download and install Google Antigravity
  • Setting up your development environment
  • Configuring AI models (Gemini 3, Claude, GPT)
  • Creating your first project with AI agents
  • Best practices for agent-first development

System Requirements

Before installing Antigravity, make sure your system meets these requirements:

| Platform | Minimum Requirements | |----------|---------------------| | Windows | Windows 10+ / 4GB RAM / 500MB disk space | | macOS | macOS 10.15 (Catalina)+ / 4GB RAM / 500MB disk space | | Linux | Ubuntu 20.04+ or equivalent / 4GB RAM / 500MB disk space |

Step 1: Download Google Antigravity

  1. Visit the official Google Antigravity website at antigravity.google
  2. Click the Download button for your operating system
  3. The installer will automatically detect your platform

Installation on Windows

  1. Run the downloaded .exe installer
  2. Follow the installation wizard prompts
  3. Choose your installation directory (default is recommended)
  4. Launch Antigravity from the Start menu

Installation on macOS

  1. Open the downloaded .dmg file
  2. Drag the Antigravity icon to your Applications folder
  3. Right-click and select "Open" for first launch (to bypass Gatekeeper)
  4. Grant necessary permissions when prompted

Installation on Linux

# Download the .deb package (Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo dpkg -i antigravity_latest_amd64.deb

# Or using snap
snap install antigravity --classic

Step 2: Initial Setup and Authentication

When you first launch Antigravity, you'll need to:

  1. Sign in with your Google Account - This enables access to Gemini 3 models
  2. Choose your primary AI model - Options include:
    • Gemini 3 Pro (recommended for most tasks)
    • Gemini 3 Flash (faster, for quick iterations)
    • Claude Sonnet 4.5 (great for complex reasoning)
    • GPT-OSS-120B (open-source alternative)

Configuring API Keys (Optional)

To use third-party models like Claude or GPT:

  1. Go to Settings > AI Models
  2. Enter your API keys for each provider
  3. Set your default model preferences

Step 3: Understanding the Antigravity Interface

Antigravity features two primary views:

Editor View

The familiar IDE experience with:

  • File explorer on the left
  • Code editor in the center
  • Agent sidebar on the right
  • Integrated terminal at the bottom

Manager View

The command center for orchestrating agents:

  • Spawn multiple agents across workspaces
  • Monitor agent progress in real-time
  • View artifacts (plans, screenshots, recordings)
  • Switch between parallel agent tasks

Step 4: Creating Your First Project

Let's create a simple web application using agent-first development:

Option 1: Let the Agent Scaffold

  1. Open the Agent sidebar (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + A)
  2. Type: "Create a new React application with TypeScript and Tailwind CSS"
  3. The agent will:
    • Generate project structure
    • Install dependencies
    • Configure build tools
    • Create initial components

Option 2: Start from Template

  1. Use File > New Project from Template
  2. Choose from templates:
    • React + TypeScript
    • Next.js Full-Stack
    • Python FastAPI
    • Node.js Express
    • And many more

Step 5: Working with AI Agents

Spawning an Agent

  1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + N to spawn a new agent
  2. Describe the task in natural language
  3. The agent will create a plan and execute it

Example Agent Tasks

Feature Development:

"Add user authentication with Google OAuth, including login/logout buttons and protected routes"

Bug Fixing:

"Fix the TypeError in the checkout flow. Users report the cart total shows NaN"

Refactoring:

"Refactor the UserService class to use the repository pattern and add unit tests"

Monitoring Agent Progress

While an agent works:

  • View real-time code changes in the diff panel
  • Check the artifact panel for plans and screenshots
  • Interrupt or redirect the agent if needed

Step 6: Installing the Browser Extension

For full browser integration capabilities:

  1. Visit the Chrome Web Store
  2. Search for "Google Antigravity Extension"
  3. Click Add to Chrome
  4. Grant necessary permissions

The extension enables agents to:

  • Test web UIs automatically
  • Take screenshots for visual validation
  • Record browser interactions
  • Debug frontend issues

Tips for Effective Agent-First Development

1. Write Clear, Specific Prompts

Less effective:

"Make the app faster"

More effective:

"Optimize the product list page by implementing virtual scrolling for the 1000+ item list, and add React.memo to prevent unnecessary re-renders"

2. Use Context Effectively

Antigravity's Gemini 3 can handle 1M+ tokens. Take advantage of this:

  • Reference specific files in your prompts
  • Provide example code or documentation
  • Link to external resources

3. Review and Validate

While agents are powerful, always:

  • Review generated code before committing
  • Run tests after agent changes
  • Check for security implications

4. Iterate Quickly

Agent-first development excels at rapid iteration:

  • Start with a rough implementation
  • Refine with follow-up prompts
  • Use agents for testing and validation

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Agent Not Responding

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Verify API key configuration
  3. Try switching to a different AI model
  4. Restart Antigravity

Slow Performance

  1. Close unused agent sessions
  2. Clear the artifact cache (Settings > Clear Cache)
  3. Ensure sufficient system resources

Authentication Issues

  1. Sign out and sign back in
  2. Check Google account permissions
  3. Verify firewall settings

What's Next?

Now that you have Antigravity set up, explore these resources:

Conclusion

Google Antigravity represents a paradigm shift in software development. By embracing agent-first development, you can dramatically increase your productivity while maintaining code quality. Start with simple tasks, build your confidence with agents, and gradually take on more complex autonomous workflows.

Ready to experience the future of development? Download Antigravity and start building today.

Last updated: January 15, 2026

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