Performance: Gemini CLI has an 8-second startup delay on Windows 11 #483
Description
Description of the bug:
Description:
Environment:
OS: Windows 11
Terminal: PowerShell 7
Node.js Version: Installed via NVM for Windows (latest LTS)
NPM Version: Bundled with Node LTS
Problem:
Any command executed with gemini (e.g., gemini --version or just gemini) has a consistent startup delay of 8-10 seconds before any output is shown.
Troubleshooting & Key Evidence:
This issue is not related to the underlying Node.js installation or the system configuration. We have confirmed this with the following test:
Executing a minimal Node.js script is extremely fast:
node -e "console.log('test')"
This command consistently returns in under 2 seconds.
The delay persists even when the machine is completely offline (flight mode), which rules out network timeouts, update checks, or authentication issues as the primary cause.
Conclusion:
The evidence strongly suggests that the 8-10 second delay is caused by an internal, synchronous startup process within the @google/gemini-cli package itself that occurs before any command logic is executed. The core node.exe process starts instantly, but the CLI script introduces a significant, blocking delay.
Actual vs expected behavior:
No response
Any other information you'd like to share?
No response