Which AI Tool Should I Use?
Which AI Tool Should I Use?
Who This Guide Is For
Everyone on the DMDQP team. Two AI tools are available: Gemini (embedded in Google Suite) and build-cli (Claude Code). Picking the right one for the job saves time and gives better results. This guide applies regardless of technical background.
What You Will Learn
- The key differences between Gemini and build-cli
- When to use each tool, with a quick-reference decision table
- How to make the choice quickly when you’re unsure
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Know Your Two Tools
Gemini — embedded in Google Suite
- Available directly inside Google Docs, Gmail, Drive, Meet, and Sheets — no installation required.
- Best for document-centric, collaboration-centric, and communication tasks.
- Accessible to everyone regardless of technical background.
build-cli — Claude Code for DMDQP
- An internal Roche wrapper around Claude Code (powered by Anthropic’s Claude).
- Runs in your terminal and has access to your local files, codebase, and the tools you configure.
- Best for technical, code-centric, and project-level tasks.
- Requires installation — see the ‘Installing build-cli’ guide.
Step 2: Use the Decision Table
| I want to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Summarise a Google Doc or PDF in Drive | Gemini |
| Draft or improve an email | Gemini |
| Take notes or summarise a Google Meet | Gemini |
| Work in a Google Sheet (formulas, analysis) | Gemini |
| Write or review code | build-cli |
| Understand or navigate a codebase | build-cli |
| Write a data pipeline or ETL script | build-cli |
| Generate SQL for a specific schema | build-cli |
| Run a multi-step technical task | build-cli |
| Draft a user story or BRD from a document | Gemini (start) then build-cli (refine with code context) |
| Quick one-off question (no code involved) | Gemini |
| Work with project-specific context and files | build-cli |
| Set up a CLAUDE.md for a new project | build-cli |
Step 3: Understand the Key Differences
| Gemini (Google Suite) | build-cli (Claude Code) | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | None — already there | Requires installation |
| Access to your files | Google Drive only | Local filesystem + configured tools |
| Best for | Documents, communication, collaboration | Code, technical tasks, multi-step workflows |
| Context awareness | Google Suite context | Your project’s codebase and configuration |
| Technical level needed | Any | Comfortable with a terminal |
Verification
You have understood this guide when you can answer: “Should I use Gemini or build-cli to review a SQL script?” (Answer: build-cli — it has access to your codebase and can provide structured code review.)
Next Steps
- If build-cli isn’t installed yet, see the ‘Installing build-cli’ guide
- See the ‘Your First Session with build-cli’ guide once build-cli is installed
- If unsure: start with Gemini for a quick answer. If the task involves code, a codebase, or a sequence of technical steps, switch to build-cli.