Earlier in the year Google announced their plan to include Gemini in the side panel in the Apps Script IDE. The wait is now over for Gemini Beta and consumers on paid Google AI tiers as this feature is now rolling out!
The update brings AI assistance directly to the online Apps Script Editor. Rather than switching between browser tabs to copy code snippets, you can now generate, edit, and debug scripts with the help of Gemini. There is a dedicated Use the Gemini side panel in the Apps Script editor documentation page that includes a number of troubleshooting and best practices tips.
Testing the side panel with container bound scripts it was very useful to see that Gemini had the context of their parent document. For situations like building data processes in Google Sheets, this built-in context saves significant time as it is aware of the headings and existing data. In addition you can also use @drive_url to reference other files.
Less obvious is the option to run a custom Gem directly from the side panel menu. I’ve been experimenting using a Gem as a way of holding some Apps Script development skills. My current iteration is in this shared GASDev Gem.
[Update 06 Aug 2027: At this time it looks like Gems can be used in the Gemini side panel for the Apps Script IDE, but you can reference this skill doc e.g. Using @https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bng3y3ndTfRju0Ud9ANvdzXwdrhBvyvopQ0uniyUg_4/edit ...]
Overall, the side panel is a fantastic addition for both new and existing users looking to rapidly build custom solutions across Google Workspace. Personally it does cause some concern around users executing generated code without fully understanding its underlying logic or security permissions, particularly when you use services like Gmail and Drive.
Source: Use the Gemini side panel in the Apps Script editor | Google for Developers
Member of Google Developers Experts Program for Google Workspace (Google Apps Script) and interested in supporting Google Workspace Devs.
Thanks Martin for the information and I believe most crucial updates GAS IDE needed is Folder Support! That will open opportunities to create pseudo framework for GAS based web applications. But this native Gemini support is much needed feature too. Thanks.
I created a feature request for folder support in the Apps Script IDE way back in 2017.
See issue tracker link below:
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/64307043
Sometime in 2023 it was deemed infeasible. So it doesn’t seem likely we’ll see that feature implemented any time soon.
However, if you name your script or html files with a folder prefix, for example – “routes/home.html”, and leverage CLASP (CLI for Apps Script) for local development, those folders will be created automatically when you pull down the project. So you do have that path available to you.