How to Get Started With Google Antigravity IDE

Google Antigravity is a free, agent-first IDE that gives you access to Claude Opus 4.5, Gemini 3 Flash, and GPT-OSS at no cost during its Public Preview. This guide walks you through installation, setup, and getting productive with its unique Manager View. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Last verified: March 2026

Step 1: Download and Install

1. Visit Antigravity’s download page or search “Google Antigravity download”
2. Select your platform (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
3. Install like any other application—it’s a standalone IDE, not a VS Code extension
4. Launch Antigravity and sign in with your Google account

System requirements: Modern CPU, 8GB+ RAM, internet connection for AI features. No GPU required—all AI processing happens in the cloud.

Step 2: Understand the Two Views

Antigravity has two distinct interfaces:

Editor View

This looks like VS Code. File tree on the left, editor in the center, terminal at the bottom, AI chat sidebar on the right. If you’ve used Cursor, Windsurf, or VS Code, this feels familiar.

Use Editor View when you want hands-on control—editing specific files, running commands, debugging.

Manager View (The Game-Changer)

Manager View is what makes Antigravity unique. Instead of editing code yourself, you observe multiple AI agents working in parallel on different parts of your project.

Think of it as being the project manager: you describe what needs to happen, agents execute, and you review and approve changes.

Use Manager View for:

• Starting new projects from scratch
• Implementing multiple features simultaneously
• Large refactoring tasks
• When you want to move fast and review later

Step 3: Start Your First Project

Option A: New Project in Manager View

1. Switch to Manager View
2. Describe your project: “Create a Next.js dashboard with authentication, a data table, and dark mode”
3. Watch agents scaffold the project, set up dependencies, and implement features in parallel
4. Review the generated code and approve or iterate

Option B: Open Existing Project in Editor View

1. Open your existing project folder
2. Use the AI sidebar to ask questions, generate code, or refactor
3. The AI understands your full codebase through context

Step 4: Choose Your AI Model

Antigravity supports multiple models for free during preview:

Model	Best For
Claude Opus 4.5	Complex coding, multi-file changes
Gemini 3 Flash	Fast responses, general tasks
GPT-OSS	Broad knowledge, explanations

Switch models via the model selector in the sidebar. Different models excel at different tasks—experiment to find your preference.

Step 5: Master Key Workflows

Natural Language Coding

Type what you want in plain English:

• “Add a dark mode toggle to the navbar”
• “Create an API endpoint for user registration with validation”
• “Refactor this component to use React hooks”

Multi-Agent Parallel Work

In Manager View, describe multiple tasks and watch agents work simultaneously:

• Agent 1 builds the frontend
• Agent 2 sets up the backend API
• Agent 3 writes tests

This parallelism is Antigravity’s biggest productivity advantage.

Code Review

After agents make changes, Antigravity shows diffs for review. Accept, reject, or ask for modifications—similar to reviewing a PR.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Antigravity

Be Specific in Prompts

“Build a landing page” → Generic result “Build a SaaS landing page with a hero section, three feature cards, pricing table with monthly/annual toggle, and a footer. Use Tailwind CSS, dark theme, Inter font.” → Much better result

Start with Manager View for New Projects

Let agents scaffold the project structure. Switch to Editor View for fine-tuning.

Use Multiple Models

Try the same task with different models. Claude Opus 4.5 often produces better code structure, while Gemini 3 Flash is faster for quick iterations.

Save Good Prompts

When a prompt produces great results, save it. You’ll reuse it across projects.

Current Limitations

• No MCP support: Can’t connect external tools/databases directly (Cursor and others support this)
• Agent reliability: Agents occasionally go off-track or make unexpected changes. Always review diffs.
• Preview stability: As a preview product, expect occasional bugs and downtime
• Offline: Requires internet—no local model support

FAQ

Is Antigravity really free?

Yes, fully free during Public Preview. No credit card, no usage caps (within reason), and access to premium AI models including Claude Opus 4.5.

Will my code stay private?

Google’s privacy policy applies. Code is processed by Google’s AI services. For sensitive/proprietary code, review Google’s data handling policies first.

Can I use my VS Code extensions?

Antigravity is a VS Code fork, so many VS Code extensions work. Not all are compatible—test your critical extensions before committing.

How is this different from Cursor?

Antigravity is free and agent-first (Manager View for parallel agents). Cursor is $20/month and developer-first (superior autocomplete and inline editing). Both are VS Code-based.

When will the free preview end?

Google hasn’t announced a date. Based on Google’s typical preview periods, expect it to last several more months. Use it while it’s free to evaluate the agent-first workflow.