Google Antigravity Complete Beginner’s Guide: Why This Free AI Coding Tool Rivaling Cursor Is Worth Having 2025

Author's Note: Google releases Antigravity, a new AI coding tool with free access to Gemini 3 Pro, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and more. Deep dive into 5 core features compared to Cursor.

In November 2025, Google released Gemini 3 Pro along with a groundbreaking product: Antigravity, a brand-new AI-native coding tool. What does this mean for developers? Can it really challenge Cursor's position?

This article will comprehensively analyze Google Antigravity's core features, comparison with Cursor, use cases, and why it's worth trying for every developer, all from a beginner's perspective.

Core Value: Through this article, you will learn about Antigravity's unique advantages, 5 core features, free model support, and how to get started in 10 minutes.

What is Google Antigravity?

Google Antigravity is an AI-native coding tool (AI-Native IDE) launched by Google, designed to redefine how developers collaborate with AI.

🎯 Product Positioning

Simple Understanding:

• VS Code:you write code, IDE provides tools
• Cursor:you and AI write code together, AI gives suggestions
• Antigravity:you give tasks, AI completes autonomously, you are responsible for verification

🌟 Core Highlights

1. Completely Free (Currently)

✓ Free access to Gemini 3 Pro
✓ Free access to Claude Sonnet 4.5
✓ Free access to GPT-O5S (open source model)
✓ No subscription plans yet

2. AI-Native Design

Antigravity is not about adding AI features to a traditional IDE, but rather a brand new tool designed from scratch for AI collaboration.

3. Task-Level Trustworthy Display

Through task lists, implementation plans, screenshots, and other easily verifiable artifacts, developers can clearly see AI's work process.

4. Cross-Interface Autonomous Operations

AI can simultaneously work in code editor, terminal, and browser, truly achieving end-to-end task automation.

🎯 Design Philosophy: Antigravity's core is "Trust but Verify". AI autonomously completes tasks, but through verifiable artifacts (task lists, screenshots, test results), developers maintain control. If you need to integrate AI model capabilities in production environments, we recommend calling Gemini 3 Pro and other models through the APIYI apiyi.com platform to obtain stable API services and enterprise-level support.

Antigravity Five Core Features: Deep Analysis

Feature 1: Task-Level Trustworthy Display

Core Problem: The "black box" problem of traditional AI coding tools — you don't know what AI is doing, you can only see the final code.

Antigravity Solution: Display work process through easily verifiable artifacts.

Workflow:

1. Developer proposes requirements
   ↓
2. AI generates task list (Task List)
   - Lists all subtasks that need to be completed
   - Clarifies expected results for each task
   ↓
3. AI creates implementation plan (Implementation Plan)
   - Detailed technical solution
   - File modification list
   - Testing strategy
   ↓
4. AI executes tasks and generates verification artifacts
   - Code change records
   - Runtime screenshots
   - Test results
   ↓
5. Developer verifies and provides feedback
   - Check task list item by item
   - View screenshots to verify interface effects
   - Add feedback

Practical Example:

Developer: Add dark mode feature to my blog

AI Generated Task List:
☐ 1. Create dark mode theme configuration file
☐ 2. Add theme toggle button component
☐ 3. Implement theme state management (localStorage)
☐ 4. Update styles for all page components
☐ 5. Add animation transition effects
☐ 6. Test dark mode effects on different pages

Implementation Plan:
- Use CSS Variables to manage colors
- React Context to manage global theme state
- localStorage to persist user choices
- Expected files to modify:
  * /src/theme/config.ts (new)
  * /src/components/ThemeToggle.tsx (new)
  * /src/App.tsx (modify)
  * /src/index.css (modify)

Verification Artifacts:
- Screenshot 1: Light mode homepage
- Screenshot 2: Dark mode homepage
- Screenshot 3: Theme switching animation
- Test Results: All pages switch normally ✓

Why This Matters:

• ✅ Controllability: Developers clearly know what AI is doing
• ✅ Verifiable: Quickly confirm through screenshots and test results
• ✅ Traceable: Task list records complete work process
• ✅ Feedback-able: Add opinions and adjustments at any stage

Feature 2: Dual-Mode Interface Design

Antigravity's unique dual-view mode meets the needs of different work scenarios.

Mode 1: Traditional Editor View (Editor View)

Applicable Scenarios: Fine-tune code, read source code, manual coding

Interface Components:

• Left side: File tree
• Middle: Code editor
• Right side: AI chat panel
• Bottom: Terminal

Similar to VS Code/Cursor, suitable for developers accustomed to traditional IDE.

Mode 2: Agent Manager View (Agent Manager View)

Applicable Scenarios: AI autonomously completes tasks, monitor task progress, batch task management

Interface Components:

• Task list area
• Task details panel
• Implementation plan display
• Verification artifacts viewer

This is Antigravity's core innovation, specifically designed for AI agent work.

Switching Between Two Modes:

Editor View → When you want to manually code or fine-tune
Manager View → When you want AI to autonomously complete tasks

Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + M (Mode Switch)

Practical Workflow:

1. Create task in manager view
   - "Implement user registration feature"

2. AI displays plan and progress in manager view
   - Task breakdown
   - Real-time progress updates

3. After AI completion, switch to editor view
   - View specific code
   - Manually adjust details

4. Return to manager view for verification
   - View screenshots
   - Confirm test results

Feature 3: Cross-Interface Autonomous Operations

Antigravity's Most Powerful Feature — AI can work like human developers, autonomously working across multiple interfaces.

Supported Operation Interfaces:

Workflow Example:

Task: Add contact form feature to website

AI's Autonomous Operation Sequence:

1. Code Editor
   → Create ContactForm.tsx component
   → Write form validation logic
   → Add style file

2. Terminal
   → npm install yup react-hook-form
   → npm run build
   → Check compilation errors

3. Code Editor
   → Fix TypeScript type errors
   → Add form submission API call

4. Browser
   → Open http://localhost:3000/contact
   → Fill form for testing
   → Screenshot and save for verification

5. Terminal
   → npm test
   → Run form validation tests

6. Generate Verification Report
   → Task list completion status
   → Interface screenshots
   → Test results

Comparison with Cursor:

Security Mechanism:

Antigravity's cross-interface operations are not completely unlimited:

✓ Safe Operations: Read files, write code, run tests
✓ Operations Requiring Confirmation: Install dependencies, modify configuration files
✓ Prohibited Operations: Delete production data, commit to remote repository, execute system-level commands

Developers can adjust permission levels in settings

Feature 4: Asynchronous Feedback Mechanism

Similar to Google Docs' comment system, but applied to every stage of the development process.

Locations Supporting Feedback:

1. Task List

   • Add comments on any task item
   • "This task can be postponed"

2. Implementation Plan

   • Question the technical solution
   • "Suggest using Redux instead of Context"

3. Code Changes

   • Comment on specific code lines
   • "Error handling should be added here"

4. Screenshots and Artifacts

   • Annotate on interface screenshots
   • "This button position needs adjustment"

Feedback Process:

1. Developer adds comment
   ↓
2. AI understands feedback content
   ↓
3. AI updates task plan
   ↓
4. AI re-executes corrections
   ↓
5. AI marks comment as "resolved"
   ↓
6. Developer verifies correction results

Practical Example:

Scenario: AI completed user login feature

Developer comments on screenshot:
💬 "Login button should be on the right side of input box, not below"

AI Response:
✓ Understand feedback: Adjust login button layout
✓ Update task: Modify LoginForm.tsx layout
✓ Re-screenshot for verification
✓ Mark comment as resolved

Developer Verification:
✓ Confirm modification is correct
✓ Close feedback

Why This Feature Matters:

• ✅ Asynchronous Collaboration: Don't need real-time conversation, add feedback anytime
• ✅ Clear Context: Comments directly linked to specific locations
• ✅ Historical Traceability: All feedback and modification records are completely preserved
• ✅ Multi-person Collaboration: Team members can add feedback on the same task

Feature 5: Knowledge Base Learning System

Antigravity's AI will learn from your project, accumulating reusable knowledge.

Learning Content:

1. Code Patterns

   • Design patterns you commonly use
   • Project-specific architectural styles
   • Error handling methods

2. Project Standards

   • Naming conventions
   • File organization structure
   • Comment style

3. Historical Decisions

   • Why a certain technical solution was chosen
   • Avoid known pitfalls
   • Best practices summary

4. Team Preferences

   • Code review standards
   • Performance optimization strategies
   • Test coverage requirements

Learning Process:

1. AI completes task
   ↓
2. Developer verifies and provides feedback
   ↓
3. AI analyzes patterns in feedback
   - "Developer always requires adding loading state"
   - "Developer prefers using async/await instead of Promise"
   ↓
4. AI updates knowledge base
   ↓
5. Next task automatically applies learned knowledge
   - Automatically add loading state
   - Prioritize using async/await

Practical Effects:

Task 1: Implement user list page

AI Generated Code:
- No loading state
- No error handling
- No empty state handling

Developer Feedback:
- Add loading state
- Add error handling
- Add empty list prompt

---

Task 2: Implement product list page

AI Generated Code (automatically applies learned knowledge):
✓ Automatically includes loading state
✓ Automatically includes error handling
✓ Automatically includes empty list prompt

Developer: Satisfied ✓

Knowledge Base Management:

View Knowledge Base:
Settings → Knowledge Base

Knowledge Entry Examples:
- "Always add loading state for async operations"
- "Use react-query to manage server state"
- "All forms require Zod validation"
- "Avoid using any type"

Developers Can:
✓ View all learned knowledge
✓ Edit or delete knowledge entries
✓ Manually add project standards
✓ Export/Import knowledge base (team sharing)

Antigravity vs Cursor:Deep Comparison

As the two hottest AI coding tools currently, Antigravity and Cursor each has its own characteristics.

📊 Comprehensive Comparison

🎯 Applicable Scenario Comparison

Antigravity More Suitable For:

✅ large feature development

Scenario:Implement a complete user authentication system
- AI autonomously completes entire feature
- includingFrontend interface, Backend API, Database design, Testing
- Developer only needs to verify final result

✅ End-to-End Tasks

Scenario:Add payment feature
- AI integrates payment SDK
- Implement payment flow
- Test payment interface
- Generate test report

✅ features requiring extensive testing

Scenario:Responsive design adaptation
- AI automatically tests different screen sizes
- Generate screenshots for each size
- Automatically fix layout issues

✅ Multi-person Collaboration Projects

Scenario:Team development
- Asynchronous feedback mechanism
- Knowledge base team sharing
- Task list transparency

Cursor More Suitable For:

✅ Quick Code Completion

Scenario:Daily coding
- Prompt while writing
- Quickly generate boilerplate code
- Real-time code suggestions

✅ Fine Code Adjustment

Scenario:Refactoring and optimization
- Line-by-line optimization
- Precise modification
- Real-time preview

✅ learning new technologies

Scenario:Explore new framework
- Conversational Q&A
- Explain code logic
- Example code generation

✅ Small-Scale Modifications

Scenario:Bug fixes
- Quickly locate problems
- Precise modification
- Instant verification

💡 Selection Recommendations

My Recommendation:

For most developers, best practice is use both together:

Antigravity:Responsible for large feature development
- Complete user module
- Complex business logic
- Features requiring extensive testing

Cursor: Responsible for daily coding
- Quick bug fixes
- Code completion
- Local optimization

🎯 Production Environment Integration Recommendation:Whether using Antigravity or Cursor, If you needintegrate AI capabilities in production applications (such as Gemini 3 Pro, Claude and other models), we recommendthrough APIYI apiyi.com platform to call.APIYI provides unified OpenAI compatible interface, supports multiple model switching, direct domestic access, enterprise-level stability guarantee, help you quickly build AI-driven applications.

Google Antigravity Why It's Worth Having?

In today's highly competitive AI coding tool market, Antigravity why is it worth developers' attention?

Reason 1: Completely Free, Powerful Features

Current Pricing:

Antigravity:Free
Cursor:$20/month
GitHub Copilot:$10/month

Free Models Available:

• ✅ Gemini 3 Pro (latest)
• ✅ Claude Sonnet 4.5 (top-tier)
• ✅ GPT-O5S (open source)

Free Features:

• ✅ unlimited tasks
• ✅ Cross-Interface Autonomous Operations
• ✅ Knowledge Base Learning
• ✅ asynchronous feedback
• ✅ dual-mode interface

Cost Comparison:

Annual Development Cost:

use Cursor:
  $20/month × 12 = $240/year

use Antigravity:
  $0/month × 12 = $0/year

Savings:$240/year

Reason 2:AI-Native Design, efficiency improvement

Traditional Programming:

1. Developer writes code manually
2. Manual testing
3. Manual screenshot verification
4. Manually record issues
5. Manually fix

Time:2-4 hours

use Antigravity:

1. Developer describes requirements
2. AI automatically complete
3. AI automaticallyTesting
4. AI automatically screenshot
5. AI automatically fix feedback

Time:30-60 minutes

Efficiency improvement:3-4 times

Reason 3: Google Ecosystem Support

Deep Integration with Google Products:

• ✅ Google Cloud deployment:one-click deployment to Cloud Run
• ✅ Firebase integration:directly use Firebase services
• ✅ Google APIs:native support for Google Maps, YouTube and other APIs
• ✅ Gemini ModelAdvantages:priority access to latest Gemini Model

Enterprise-Grade Reliability:

• ✅ Google infrastructure
• ✅ data security guarantee
• ✅ stability commitment
• ✅ continuous updates

Reason 4: Knowledge Base System, gets smarter with use

Traditional AI Tools:

Every task starts from scratch
No memory
Won't learn your habits

Antigravity Knowledge Base:

Task 1:Needs detailed guidance
Task 5:Starts understanding your style
Task 10:Automatically applies your preferences
Task 50:Fully adapts to your project

Result:More efficient with use

Reason 5: Open Source Friendly, Supports Customization

Openness:

• ✅ supports custom Agent
• ✅ plugin system (coming soon)
• ✅ Knowledge Baseimport/export
• ✅ API open interfaces

Community-Driven:

• ✅ GitHub open source components
• ✅ community shares knowledge bases
• ✅ user contributions Agent
• ✅ active developer forums

Antigravity Quick Start Guide

📥 Step 1:Download and Installation

Official Download Address:

https://antigravity.google/download

Supported Platforms:

• ✅ Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• ✅ macOS 12+ (Intel & Apple Silicon)
• ✅ Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+)

Installation Steps:

macOS:

# Download .dmg file
# drag to Applications folder
# First launch may require"System Preferences → Security"to allow

Windows:

# Download .exe installer
# double-click to run
# follow installation wizard
# automatically launch after installation

Linux:

# Download .deb or .AppImage
sudo dpkg -i antigravity_1.0.0_amd64.deb
# orrun directly AppImage
chmod +x Antigravity-1.0.0.AppImage
./Antigravity-1.0.0.AppImage

🔐 Step 2:Login and Configuration

1. Login Google account

Launch Antigravity
→ Click"Sign in with Google"
→ Browser automatically opens
→ Select Google account
→ Authorize Antigravity Access permissions
→ Return to Antigravity, login successful

2. Select AI Model

Settings → AI Models

Available Models:
- Gemini 3 Pro (Recommended, Latest)
- Claude Sonnet 4.5 (Strong reasoning ability)
- GPT-O5S (Open source, Privacy protection)

Default:Gemini 3 Pro

3. Configure Interface Preferences

Settings → Appearance

- Theme:Light / Dark / Auto
- Interface Language:English / Chinese / 日本語...
- DefaultView:Editor View / Agent Manager View
- Font Size:12px - 18px

🚀 Step 3:Create First Project

Method 1:New Project

1. File → New Project
2. Select project type:
   - React App
   - Vue App
   - Node.js API
   - Next.js
   - Python Flask
   - Blank project
3. Enter Project Name
4. Select save location
5. Click"Create"

AI will automatically:
- Initialize project structure
- Install dependencies
- Configure development environment

Method 2: Open Existing Project

File → Open Project
→ Select project folder
→ Antigravity automatically analyzes project structure
→ Load project context

💬 Step 4: Create First Task

Switch to Agent Manager View:

Shortcut: Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + M
or click the view toggle button in the upper right corner

Create Task:

1. Click "New Task" button

2. Enter Task Description:
"Add user login feature to my React application, including:
- Login form (email+password)
- Form validation
- Login API call (simulated)
- After login success, redirect to homepage
- Login state saved to localStorage"

3. Click "Create Task"

4. AI starts working:
   → Analyze requirements
   → Generate task list
   → Create implementation plan
   → Request confirmation

5. Review and Confirm Plan:
   ✓ Task list is reasonable
   ✓ Implementation solution is feasible
   → Click "Approve"

6. AI Autonomous Execution:
   → Create files
   → Write code
   → Run tests
   → Generate screenshots

7. Verify Results:
   → View task list (All completed ✓)
   → View screenshots (login interface)
   → Test functionality (In browser)

🔄 Step 5: Provide Feedback and Iterate

Add Feedback on Screenshot:

1. Click screenshot in task details
2. Click anywhere on screenshot
3. Add Comment:
   "Change login button color to blue"
4. Click "Submit"

AI automatically:
→ Understand feedback
→ Modify code
→ Re-screenshot
→ Mark feedback as "resolved"

Add Feedback on Code:

1. Switch to Editor View
2. Click next to code line number
3. Add Comment:
   "Error handling needs to be added here"
4. Return to Agent Manager View

AI automatically:
→ Update implementation plan
→ Modify code
→ Run tests
→ Confirm modification

📚 Step 6: View and Manage Knowledge Base

Settings → Knowledge Base

View AI Learned knowledge:
- "总是为Login form添加记住password选项"
- "use Zod 进行Form validation"
- "Login成功后显示 Toast Tips"

管理Knowledge Base:
- Edit knowledge entries
- Delete inaccurate knowledge
- Manually add project standards
- 导出Knowledge Base (Share with team)

Antigravity Best Practices

1. Clear Task Description

❌ Bad Task Description:

"做一个Login页面"

✅ Good Task Description:

"创建Use户Loginfeature:
- Login form包含emailandpasswordInput fields
- Form validation:emailFormat check, passwordAt least 6 characters
- 记住password选项
- Loginbutton样式:蓝色Background, White text, Rounded corners
- After login success, redirect to /dashboard
- Login失败显示错误Tips
- use React Hook Form and Zod validation"

Tips:

• ✅ clarify functional requirements
• ✅ specify tech stack
• ✅ describe interface details
• ✅ explain interaction logic

2. Phased Verification

Recommended Process:

Stage 1:Review Task Plan
→ AI Generate task list
→ 开发者确认清单Reasonable
→ Developer approves execution

Stage 2:Mid-term Check
→ AI Complete 50% tasks
→ 开发者View screenshots
→ Identify issues early
→ Adjust direction promptly

Stage 3:最终validation
→ AI Complete所有tasks
→ 开发者全面Testing
→ Add feedback
→ AI Fix issues

3. Fully Utilize Knowledge Base

let AI learn your preferences:

Method 1:Teach Through Feedback
- 每次 AI Completetasks后提供具体反馈
- "I prefer using Tailwind CSS"
- "错误Tips要显示在form上方, not below"

Method 2:Manually Add Standards
- Settings → Knowledge Base → Add Rule
- "所有 API call必须use try-catch"
- "Components must include TypeScript Type definitions"

Method 3:Import Team Standards
- From团队Knowledge Base导入
- Unify team coding style
- Maintain project consistency

4. Model Selection Strategy

5. Team Collaboration Tips

knowledge base sharing:

1. 项目负责人配置Knowledge Base
2. 导出Knowledge Basefile:
   Settings → Knowledge Base → Export
3. Share with team成员
4. Team members import:
   Settings → Knowledge Base → Import

Task Assignment:

1. Create Task并标记负责人
2. use标签分类tasks:
   - [Frontend]
   - [Backend]
   - [Bug]
   - [Feature]
3. 团队成员各自validation自己负责的tasks

Frequently Asked Questions

Frontend:
- JavaScript / TypeScript
- React / Vue / Angular / Svelte
- Next.js / Nuxt.js / Remix
- HTML / CSS / Tailwind CSS

Backend:
- Node.js / Express / Fastify / NestJS
- Python / Django / Flask / FastAPI
- Go / Gin / Echo
- Rust / Actix / Rocket

Mobile:
- React Native
- Flutter (Basic Support)

Database:
- PostgreSQL / MySQL / MongoDB
- Prisma / TypeORM / Sequelize
- Redis

云Services:
- Google Cloud Platform (Priority Support)
- Firebase
- AWS (Basic Support)
- Vercel / Netlify

Recommended配合方案:

Antigravity:
- 完整feature开发
- 大型tasks
- 需要AutomaticallyTesting的feature
- 跨多个file的修改

Cursor:
- Daily coding assistance
- Quick bug fixes
- Code completion
- Learning new technologies

Practical Workflow:
1. Use Antigravity Complete大feature开发
2. Use Cursor 做细节调整and优化
3. Use Antigravity 进行全面Testing

✓ LocalKnowledge Base存储 (Not uploaded to Google Services器)
✓ 代码仅Use于Currenttasks上下文
✓ 不会Use于训练 Google 的 AI Model
✓ can以Select完全Offline模式 (useLocalModel)

Settings → Privacy:
- Knowledge Base存储characters置:Local / Cloud
- Code Analysis Mode:Online / Offline
- Telemetry Data:Enable / Disable

Antigravity:
- Applicable Scenarios:开发Stage的代码生成andTesting
- Modelcall:through Google Free配额
- Suitable for:Single-machine development, Prototype design

Production Environment:
- Applicable Scenarios:上线应Use的 AI feature
- Modelcall:需要稳定的 API Services
- Requirements:High concurrency, SLA guarantee, Controllable costs

Advantages:
✓ Unified OpenAI Compatible interface
✓ Support Gemini 3 Pro, Claude, GPT and other models
✓ Direct domestic connection, low latency
✓ Enterprise-grade SLA guarantee
✓ Pay-as-you-go, transparent costs
✓ 7x24 Chinese technical support

Quick Access:
import openai

client = openai.OpenAI(
    api_key="apiyi_key_xxx",
    base_url="https://vip.apiyi.com/v1"
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gemini-3-pro-preview",
    messages=[...]
)

Summary and Recommendations

Google Antigravity represents a new direction for AI coding tools — from "AI-assisted programming" to "AI-native development".

Core Value Review:

1. ✅ Completely Free:Gemini 3 Pro + Claude Sonnet 4.5 + GPT-O5S
2. ✅ AI-Native Design:task-driven, agent-first
3. ✅ Cross-Interface Autonomous Operations:code + terminal + browser fully automated
4. ✅ Trustworthy Verification Mechanism:task list + screenshots + test results
5. ✅ Knowledge Base Learning:gets smarter with use, adapts to your style

Is It Worth Having:

Action Recommendations:

1. Download and Try Immediately:antigravity.google/download
2. Start with small tasks:familiarize with workflow
3. gradually build knowledge base:let AI learn your preferences
4. Combine Cursor use:leverage respective advantages
5. Focus on Production Deployment:through APIYI apiyi.com integrate AI capabilities

Final Opinion:

Antigravity won't completely replace Cursor, both have different positioning:

• Antigravity:Suitable for large feature development, AI completes autonomously
• Cursor:Suitable for daily coding assistance, rapid iteration

For developers pursuing efficiency, using both together is the best choice.

Download Antigravity now, experience the future of AI-native development. Free, powerful, worth having.

📝 Author Bio: APIYI Technical Team, focused on AI large model technology tracking and enterprise-level application practices. We provide developers with the most timely AI tool evaluations, application cases, and best practices. If you need to integrate Gemini 3 Pro and other AI models in production environments, you can visit APIYI apiyi.com to obtain stable API services and enterprise-level support.
🔔 Technical Exchange: Welcome to share your Antigravity usage experience in the comments section. If you need AI model API access technical support or enterprise-level solution design, you can contact our technical team through APIYI apiyi.com to obtain free consultation services and customized solutions.