π€ Skill: gemini-sdk-expert (v1.3.0)
Executive Summary
gemini-sdk-expert is a high-tier skill focused on mastering the Google Gemini ecosystem. In 2026, building with AI isn't just about prompts; it's about Structural Integrity, Context Optimization, and Multimodal Orchestration. This skill provides the blueprint for building ultra-reliable, cost-effective, and powerful AI applications using the latest @google/genai standards.
π Table of Contents
- Core Capabilities
- The "Do Not" List (Anti-Patterns)
- Quick Start: JSON Enforcement
- Standard Production Patterns
- Advanced Agentic Patterns
- Context Caching Strategy
- Multimodal Integration
- Safety & Responsible AI
- Reference Library
π Core Capabilities
- Strict Structured Output: Leveraging
responseSchemafor 100% reliable JSON generation. - Agentic Function Calling: enabling models to interact with private APIs and tools.
- Long-Form Context Management: Using Context Caching for massive datasets (2M+ tokens).
- Native Multimodal Reasoning: Processing video, audio, and documents as first-class inputs.
- Latency Optimization: Strategic model selection (Flash vs. Pro) and streaming responses.
π« The "Do Not" List (Anti-Patterns)
| Anti-Pattern | Why it fails in 2026 | Modern Alternative |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Regex Parsing | Fragile and prone to hallucination. | Use responseSchema (Controlled Output). |
| Old SDK (@google/generative-ai) | Outdated, lacks 2026 features. | Use @google/genai exclusively. |
| Uncached Large Contexts | Extremely expensive and slow. | Use Context Caching for repetitive queries. |
| Hardcoded API Keys | Security risk. | Use Secure Environment Variables and GOOGLE_GENAI_API_VERSION. |
| Single-Model Bias | Pro is overkill for simple extraction. | Use Gemini 3 Flash for speed/cost tasks. |
β‘ Quick Start: JSON Enforcement
The #1 rule in 2026: Structure at the Source.
import { GoogleGenerativeAI, Type } from "@google/genai";
// Optional: Set API Version via env
// process.env.GOOGLE_GENAI_API_VERSION = "v1beta1";
const schema = {
type: Type.OBJECT,
properties: {
status: { type: Type.STRING, enum: ["COMPLETE", "PENDING", "ERROR"] },
summary: { type: Type.STRING },
priority: { type: Type.NUMBER }
},
required: ["status", "summary"]
};
// Always set MIME type to application/json
const result = await model.generateContent({
contents: [{ role: 'user', parts: [{ text: "Evaluate task X..." }] }],
generationConfig: {
responseMimeType: "application/json",
responseSchema: schema
}
});
π Standard Production Patterns
Pattern A: The Data Extractor (Flash)
Best for processing thousands of documents quickly and cheaply.
- Model:
gemini-3-flash - Config: High
topP, lowtemperaturefor deterministic extraction.
Pattern B: The Complex Reasoner (Pro)
Best for architectural decisions, coding assistance, and deep media analysis.
- Model:
gemini-3-pro - Config: Enable Strict Mode in schemas for 100% adherence.
π§© Advanced Agentic Patterns
Parallel Function Calling
Reduce round-trips by allowing the model to call multiple tools at once. See References: Function Calling for implementation.
Semantic Caching
Store and retrieve embeddings of common queries to bypass the LLM for identical requests.
πΎ Context Caching Strategy
In 2026, we don't re-upload. We cache.
- Warm-up Phase: Initial context upload.
- Persistence Phase: Referencing the cache via
cachedContent. - Cleanup Phase: Managing TTLs to optimize storage costs.
See References: Context Caching for more.
πΈ Multimodal Integration
Gemini 3 understands the world visually and audibly.
- Video: Scene detection and temporal reasoning.
- Audio: Sentiment, tone, and environment detection.
- Document: Visual layout and OCR.
See References: Multimodal Mastery for details.
π Reference Library
Detailed deep-dives into Gemini SDK excellence:
- Structured Output: Nested schemas and validation.
- Function Calling: Tools, execution loops, and security.
- Context Caching: Reducing cost and latency.
- Multimodal 2026: Video, audio, and PDF mastery.
Updated: January 31, 2026 - 10:45