TermdockSeparate the Work First
The point of two CLIs is not merely two windows. The next agent needs the requirement, file locations, and verification results. This example uses Gemini CLI for exploration, Claude Code for implementation, and another session for review; substitute any CLI you can actually access.
Check eligibility first. Google's May 2026 announcement says Gemini CLI stopped serving Gemini Code Assist individual free users and Google AI Pro/Ultra users on June 18; Code Assist Standard/Enterprise and paid Gemini and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform API keys remain supported. Google directs affected individuals to Antigravity CLI, which is not a feature-for-feature replacement. Meanwhile the Gemini CLI authentication and quota docs still list personal accounts and free quotas. These official sources conflict, and we have not tested every account type. Check the latest information and your own eligibility; do not assume the old 1,000 free daily requests.
The Decision Framework: Which Tool for Which Task
Divide responsibility rather than assuming one model is always better: an exploration session finds the current behavior and open questions, an implementation session edits authorized files, and a review session compares the diff with the requirement. Another session does not automatically know the preceding conversation; include the needed context in each handoff.
Setting Up the Dual-Tool Workflow
- Follow the Gemini CLI installation guide and Claude Code setup guide. Verify sign-in, plan, and usage. Each tool has its own account and costs.
- Open the project as a Termdock workspace. Add two terminals and start your installed, accessible CLIs. Check that both point to the intended project and branch.
- Give each session a separate role. For concurrent edits, assign file ownership or create worktrees yourself; Termdock does not automatically create one worktree per agent.
Workflow Example: Building a Feature
The following rate-limiting task is illustrative. It does not assume a package is already installed or claim the example was run.
Step 1: Explore Without Editing
In the Gemini CLI session, ask:
Inspect this project's API entry points, middleware, and existing tests read-only.
List the relevant paths, current behavior, and questions to resolve before adding rate limiting.
Do not edit files or install packages.
Use the tool's permission controls too; a prompt alone is not a sandbox. Verify the paths exist and decide the strategy and any new dependencies yourself.
Step 2: Hand the Decision to the Implementer
Give Claude Code the requirement, verified paths, allowed files, and test commands:
Implement rate limiting for the specified API using the approved approach.
Edit only these authorized files: [insert paths].
Report the diff, test commands, and results; do not commit or deploy.
Replace [insert paths] with real paths. If a check fails or a prerequisite is missing, report it rather than claiming completion.
Step 3: Hand Off the Review and Inspect It
Give the other session the requirement and diff location. Ask it to review error responses, edge cases, and test gaps without editing, with file locations for each finding. Check the evidence, return valid findings to the implementer, and rerun relevant tests. A person inspects the final diff and results before deciding what happens next.
Optional: Let an Agent Use Termdock for the Handoff
On macOS, install the termdock CLI from Settings > Skills > Command Line Tool. After confirming both CLIs are installed and authenticated, ask Claude Code to use the bundled terminal skill to open a review session, send the requirement and diff location, and read the response. Manual handoff also works. Termdock connects terminals; it does not automatically share conversations or guarantee completion or correctness. Windows supports the desktop and HTTP Terminal API; one-click CLI installation is currently macOS-only. See the agent handoff walkthrough and CLI documentation.
The Cost Math
Record actual subscription and API bills, models, and usage, then compare the total with the previous workflow. Do not assume a personal free allowance, a fixed percentage saving, or a subscription downgrade. Savings depend on available plans and your workload.
When This Strategy Does Not Work
A small change may not justify a handoff; confidential data may not be suitable for a second provider. Restrict permissions and review data policies first, and leave execution or publication decisions to a person.
Getting Started Checklist
Verify access and budget, choose a low-risk task, and specify inputs, outputs, and prohibited actions. After exploration, implementation, and review, retain actual test results and decide whether the handoff helped. For a closer look at access and costs, see Claude Code and Gemini CLI.