Connect shadcn/ui to Gemini CLI
Give Gemini CLI governed access to shadcn/ui’s 7 tools through Runlayer, with identity, policy, scanning, and audit on every call.
Set up
Add shadcn/ui to Gemini CLI in four steps
Admins approve the server once. Everyone in Gemini CLI then gets it through the same governed connection.
- 1
Approve shadcn/ui in Runlayer
Add shadcn/ui from the catalog and choose who can use it and which of its tools are allowed.
- 2
Connect Gemini CLI to Runlayer
Install the Runlayer CLI so Gemini CLI can reach shadcn/ui, which runs on the user’s machine.
Gemini CLI setup guide - 3
Sign in to shadcn/ui
Sign in the way shadcn/ui requires. Runlayer holds the credentials so they stay out of the client’s configuration.
- 4
Use shadcn/ui from Gemini CLI
shadcn/ui’s approved tools appear in Gemini CLI. Every call is checked against policy and recorded.
Tools
7 shadcn/ui tools in Gemini CLI
Runlayer policy decides which of these Gemini CLI users can call.
Get project registries
Get configured registry names from components.json - Returns error if no components.json exists (use init_project to create one)
List items in registries
List items from registries (requires components.json - use init_project if missing)
Search items in registries
Search for components in registries using fuzzy matching (requires components.json).
View items in registries
View detailed information about specific registry items including the name, description, type and files content.
Get item examples from registries
Find usage examples and demos with their complete code.
Get add command for items
Get the shadcn CLI add command for specific items in a registry.
Get audit checklist
Make sure to run the tool after all required steps have been completed.
Control
What Runlayer can see and stop in Gemini CLI
Some controls apply to every client at the gateway. Others depend on what Gemini CLI exposes to Runlayer.
Gateway policy (available)
Every shadcn/ui call from Gemini CLI passes through Runlayer, where your policies can allow, alert, mask, or block it.
Audit trail (available)
Each call is recorded with the user, Gemini CLI as the client, the tool, and the policy and scanner decisions.
Client hooks (available)
Capture supported prompts, reasoning, local and MCP tool calls, responses, and scanner decisions in real time.
Stop a call before it runs (available)
Runlayer can deny a tool call before Gemini CLI runs it.
Block output after it runs (available)
Runlayer can block a tool’s output before Gemini CLI’s model sees it.
Redact output in place (not available)
Gemini CLI can only add text to a tool result, not replace it, so Runlayer blocks output it would otherwise mask. The gateway still applies policy to the call.
In Gemini CLI
- Enforcement needs Gemini CLI 0.26.0 or newer.
- When Runlayer blocks a call or its output, Gemini CLI shows the model the block reason instead.
Frequently asked questions
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