GChat CLI
Google Chat in your terminal. Send messages, browse spaces, and stay connected to your team without opening a browser.
About GChat CLI
GChat CLI is a command-line interface for Google Chat. If your team's comms happen in Chat (because your company is on Google Workspace) and your workflow happens in the terminal (because you're an engineer), you've been browser-tabbing between the two all day. GChat CLI cuts that: send messages, read threads, list spaces, reply inline, search history — all from the same prompt you're already running git and docker commands in.
Our agency runs on Google Workspace, which means Google Chat is the lowest-latency path between our engineers and every client we've onboarded to shared spaces. The web client is fine; the mobile app is fine; neither belongs in a tmux pane while you're deep in a codebase. We built GChat CLI for the hours between "I need to send a one-line update" and "I need to stop working to go find a window."
Written in TypeScript on Node.js, authenticated via OAuth 2.0 against Google Workspace, scriptable with JSON output for CI/CD pipelines. Works with personal Gmail accounts that have Chat enabled, standard Workspace accounts, and enterprise Workspace deployments.
What It Does
Send messages to direct conversations and spaces
Browse and search conversation history
List spaces, members, and recent activity
Reply to threads inline
Rich text and emoji support
OAuth authentication with Google Workspace
Configurable notification polling
Scriptable output for automation pipelines
Key Features
Send and receive messages
Browse conversations
Direct and space messaging
Keyboard-driven workflow
Built With
The technologies powering GChat CLI.
Why GChat CLI
Honest notes on the closest comparable tools and where GChat CLI differs.
Google Chat web app
The canonical experience. Full-featured and always up to date — highest latency to context-switch from a terminal-heavy workflow.
Google Chat mobile apps
Built for away-from-desk use. Not a terminal workflow replacement; different surface area.
Slack terminal CLIs
Different service entirely. GChat CLI is the Chat-specific equivalent for teams that run on Google Workspace rather than Slack.
Zulip / Matrix terminal clients
Comparable terminal chat experience on different underlying protocols. Useful reference for the pattern, not a drop-in replacement.
Common Questions
Does this require Google Workspace?
Yes. GChat CLI authenticates via OAuth with a Google Workspace account. Personal Gmail accounts with Google Chat enabled also work.
Can I use it in scripts?
Yes. GChat CLI supports JSON output mode, making it easy to pipe into other tools or use in CI/CD pipelines.
Is it open source?
Yes. GChat CLI is fully open source and available on GitHub.
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Try
GChat CLI
Check it out on GitHub, open an issue, or contribute to the project.