Setup & Your First Agent
Antigravity installs in minutes and requires no API key configuration for standard use. This module covers every step from download to your first autonomous agent run, including configuration options, project setup, and troubleshooting.
System Requirements
Before downloading, verify your system meets the minimum requirements:
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | macOS 13+, Windows 10, Ubuntu 20.04+ | macOS 14+, Windows 11, Ubuntu 22.04+ |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB (agents use memory for context caching) |
| Disk Space | 500 MB for installation | 2 GB (includes local index cache) |
| Internet | Stable broadband connection | Low-latency connection (agents stream responses) |
| Browser (for browser agent) | Chrome 120+ | Chrome 124+ (latest stable) |
| Node.js (optional) | Not required | v18+ if your project uses it (agents run terminal commands) |
Step-by-Step Installation
Download Antigravity
Go to antigravity.google and click Download for [your OS]. Available for macOS (Apple Silicon + Intel), Windows 10/11, and Ubuntu 20.04+. The installer is approximately 180MB.
On macOS, you will download a .dmg file. On Windows, a .exe installer. On Linux, a .deb package. All three follow standard installation procedures for their platform.
Run the Installer
macOS: Open the .dmg, drag Antigravity to Applications. On first launch, right-click and select Open to bypass Gatekeeper (required for unsigned preview software).
Windows: Run the .exe installer. Accept the defaults. Antigravity installs to C:\Users\[you]\AppData\Local\Programs\Antigravity. It adds itself to your PATH automatically.
Linux: Run sudo dpkg -i antigravity_*.deb && sudo apt-get install -f. Launch from your application menu or terminal with antigravity.
Sign in with Google
On first launch, click Sign in with Google. Your Google account manages access to Gemini 3 Pro (default model) and usage quotas. No separate API key is needed during the free preview period.
If you want to use Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4o, you will add those API keys later in Settings. The Google sign-in covers Gemini models only.
Import VS Code Settings (Optional)
Antigravity detects existing VS Code or Windsurf installations and offers to import extensions, themes, and keybindings. Accept this for a zero-friction transition — your familiar environment transfers over.
Imported settings include: color themes, icon themes, keyboard shortcuts, installed extensions, editor preferences (font size, tab width, word wrap), and workspace settings. Extensions that rely on VS Code-specific APIs may need updated versions from the Antigravity marketplace.
Open Your Project
File → Open Folder — select your project root. Antigravity indexes the codebase immediately. For large projects (over 50K lines), indexing takes 30-60 seconds and runs in the background.
The indexing process builds a semantic map: function signatures, type definitions, import chains, and file relationships. You will see a progress indicator in the bottom status bar. You can start working immediately — indexing completes in the background.
Select Your Model
Bottom status bar → click the model name → choose from: Gemini 3 Pro (default, fastest), Claude Sonnet 4.6 (best for complex reasoning), or GPT-4o. You can switch per-agent.
Gemini 3 Pro is the default and is free during preview. Use it for straightforward tasks: simple bug fixes, test writing, documentation updates. Claude Sonnet 4.6 excels at complex multi-step reasoning and tasks requiring nuanced understanding of business logic. GPT-4o is a strong generalist. During preview, experiment with all three on similar tasks to build intuition for which model suits which task type.
Configuring Third-Party Models
To use Claude or GPT-4o alongside Gemini, you need to add API keys:
Open Settings
Press Ctrl+, (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+, (macOS). Navigate to Antigravity → Models.
Add Anthropic API Key
Under "Claude Models," paste your Anthropic API key from console.anthropic.com. This enables Claude Sonnet 4.6 in the model picker. Usage is billed to your Anthropic account.
Add OpenAI API Key
Under "OpenAI Models," paste your OpenAI API key from platform.openai.com. This enables GPT-4o. Usage is billed to your OpenAI account.
Set Default Model Per Task Type (Optional)
In the same settings panel, you can configure default models by task type: one model for code generation, another for test writing, another for documentation. This is optional — most users start with a single default and switch manually per agent.
Project Configuration — .antigravity File
Antigravity supports an optional .antigravity configuration file in your project root. This file tells agents about your project's conventions, similar to how .windsurfrules works in Windsurf:
The .antigravity file is optional but strongly recommended. Agents read it before every task and follow its conventions. The test_command and lint_command fields tell agents how to verify their own work. The protected_files list prevents agents from modifying sensitive files.
Dispatching Your First Agent
With setup complete, dispatch your first agent:
Open the Agent Panel
Press Ctrl+Shift+A (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+A (macOS). The Agent panel slides open on the right side of the editor.
Write Your Task
Type your task in plain English. Be specific: name the file, the function, the expected behaviour, and any constraints. For your first task, try something small and verifiable — for example: "Add a GET /health endpoint to api/main.py that returns {status: 'ok'}. Add a test for it in tests/test_health.py."
Review the Auto-Generated Plan
Before executing, the agent shows you its plan: which files it will read, what it will create or modify, and in what order. Scan this plan to ensure it makes sense. You can edit the plan or add constraints before the agent starts.
Press Enter to Execute
The agent begins executing its plan. You can watch progress in real time in the Manager Surface, or switch to other work while the agent runs.
Review the Diff
When the agent finishes, it queues a diff for your review. The diff shows all changed files with standard green/red highlighting. Test results are shown alongside the diff. Accept, reject, or partially accept.
First Agent Run — ThreadCo
✓ Add GiftWrap model to schemas.py
→ Add gift_wrap field to order endpoint
○ Write tests in tests/test_giftwrap.py
○ Update API docs
Understanding Agent Modes
Antigravity supports three execution modes, selectable when you dispatch a task:
Autonomous Mode
The agent executes its full plan without pausing for approval at each step. It reads files, writes code, runs tests, and iterates until the task is complete. It only pauses if it encounters ambiguity it cannot resolve. This is the default mode and the one most developers use for well-defined tasks.
Step-by-Step Mode
The agent pauses after each action and waits for your approval before continuing. Use this when you are learning the tool, working with sensitive code, or want to understand exactly how the agent approaches a problem. It is slower but gives you full visibility and control.
Plan-Only Mode
The agent generates a plan but does not execute it. You review the plan, adjust it, and then choose whether to execute. Use this when you want to preview the agent's approach before it touches any files. Useful for complex tasks where the approach matters as much as the output.
Key Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Open Agent panel | Ctrl+Shift+A | Cmd+Shift+A |
| Open Manager Surface | Ctrl+Shift+M | Cmd+Shift+M |
| Inline agent edit | Ctrl+K | Cmd+K |
| Accept diff | Ctrl+Enter | Cmd+Enter |
| Reject diff | Ctrl+Backspace | Cmd+Backspace |
| Pause running agent | Ctrl+P | Cmd+P |
| Switch model | Ctrl+Shift+L | Cmd+Shift+L |
| Open settings | Ctrl+, | Cmd+, |
| Toggle terminal | Ctrl+` | Cmd+` |
| Quick agent (inline) | Ctrl+I | Cmd+I |
Writing Effective Task Descriptions
Here is a template that consistently produces good results:
Troubleshooting Common Setup Issues
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "Cannot connect to agent service" | Firewall blocking outbound connections | Allow antigravity.google and api.antigravity.google through your firewall. Antigravity requires HTTPS on ports 443. |
| Indexing takes longer than 5 minutes | Very large project or node_modules included | Create a .antigravityignore file (same syntax as .gitignore) to exclude node_modules, dist, build directories, and binary files. |
| Agent produces empty diff | Task too vague or agent confused | Rewrite the task with specific file names, function names, and expected behaviour. Check the agent's timeline in Manager Surface for clues. |
| VS Code extensions not working | Extension API incompatibility | Check the Antigravity marketplace for updated versions. Some VS Code extensions need Antigravity-specific builds. Core extensions (GitLens, ESLint, Prettier) are supported. |
| Claude/GPT-4o model not appearing | Missing API key | Go to Settings → Antigravity → Models and add your Anthropic or OpenAI API key. |
| "Quota exceeded" error | Too many agent dispatches in the preview period | The free preview has usage limits. Wait for the quota to reset (daily) or switch to a model with remaining quota. |
| Agent cannot run tests | Missing test_command configuration | Add a test_command to your .antigravity config file, or ensure your project has a recognisable test setup (package.json scripts, pytest.ini, etc.). |
| Browser agent not connecting | Chrome extension not installed or outdated | Install the Antigravity Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store. Ensure Chrome is running before dispatching a browser agent. |
Antigravity is in public preview. If you encounter a bug that is not in the table above, check the antigravity.google/issues page for known issues. The team ships updates weekly, so many issues are resolved quickly. Keep the application updated via Help → Check for Updates.
Installing the Chrome Extension (for Browser Agent)
The browser agent requires a separate Chrome extension. Install it now so it is ready when you reach the Browser Integration module:
Open Chrome Web Store
In Chrome, go to the Chrome Web Store and search for "Antigravity Browser Agent" or navigate to the link shown in Antigravity's Settings → Browser panel.
Install the Extension
Click "Add to Chrome." The extension requires permissions to read and interact with web pages (necessary for form filling, clicking, and DOM reading). Review the permissions and accept.
Verify Connection
Back in Antigravity, open Settings → Browser. You should see "Chrome extension connected" with a green indicator. If not, restart Chrome and Antigravity.
Hands-On Exercises
.antigravity configuration file for your project. Include: project name, language, framework, test command, lint command, at least 3 coding conventions, and at least 2 protected files. Commit this file to your repository.