ArcKit - Gemini CLI Extension
The Enterprise Architecture Governance Harness for Gemini CLI
ArcKit provides 75 slash commands across strategy, architecture, delivery, assurance, and interoperability — including UK Government compliance — all from within Gemini CLI.
Installation
gemini extensions install https://github.com/tractorjuice/arckit-gemini
Prerequisites
- Gemini CLI:
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli@latest - Node.js: Required for MCP server bridges (AWS Knowledge, Microsoft Learn)
Optional: Google Cloud Research
To use /arckit:gcp-research, configure your Google API key:
# Set via Gemini CLI settings, or export directly:
export GOOGLE_API_KEY="your-api-key"
Get a key at https://makersuite.google.com/app/apikey
Quick Start
# Start Gemini CLI in your project
cd /path/to/your/project
gemini
# Create a project plan
/arckit:plan Create project plan for cloud migration with 6-month timeline
# Establish governance
/arckit:principles Create cloud-first architecture principles
# Analyze stakeholders
/arckit:stakeholders Analyze stakeholders for payment gateway where CFO wants cost savings
# Define requirements
/arckit:requirements Create requirements for cloud migration project
# Research cloud platforms
/arckit:aws-research Evaluate AWS services for serverless architecture
/arckit:azure-research Evaluate Azure services for enterprise integration
/arckit:gcp-research Evaluate GCP services for data analytics platform
Core Commands
Phase 0: Project Planning
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:init |
Initialize ArcKit project structure |
/arckit:plan |
Project plan with GDS Agile Delivery phases and Mermaid Gantt charts |
/arckit:start |
Guided project onboarding, workflow selection, and command recommendations |
/arckit:strategy |
Enterprise architecture strategy document |
Phase 1: Discovery
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:principles |
Architecture principles (global, cross-project) |
/arckit:stakeholders |
Stakeholder analysis with drivers, goals, RACI |
/arckit:risk |
Risk register (HM Treasury Orange Book) |
/arckit:sobc |
Strategic Outline Business Case (HM Treasury Green Book) |
Phase 2: Alpha
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:requirements |
Comprehensive requirements (BR/FR/NFR/INT/DR) |
/arckit:data-model |
Data model with ERD, GDPR compliance |
/arckit:data-mesh-contract |
Federated data product contract (ODCS v3.0.2) |
/arckit:dpia |
Data Protection Impact Assessment (GDPR Article 35) |
/arckit:platform-design |
Platform strategy using Platform Design Toolkit |
/arckit:wardley |
Wardley Map with strategic analysis |
/arckit:roadmap |
Multi-year strategic architecture roadmap |
/arckit:adr |
Architecture Decision Record (MADR format) |
/arckit:dfd |
Yourdon-DeMarco Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) with structured analysis notation |
/arckit:diagram |
Architecture diagrams (C4, Mermaid) |
Phase 3: Research & Procurement
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:research |
Technology research with build vs buy analysis |
/arckit:datascout |
Data source discovery and API catalogue search |
/arckit:aws-research |
AWS service research (via AWS Knowledge MCP) |
/arckit:azure-research |
Azure service research (via Microsoft Learn MCP) |
/arckit:gcp-research |
GCP service research (via Google Developer Knowledge MCP) |
/arckit:gcloud-search |
G-Cloud 14 framework search |
/arckit:gcloud-clarify |
G-Cloud supplier clarification questions |
/arckit:dos |
Digital Outcomes and Specialists procurement |
/arckit:sow |
Statement of Work for RFP |
/arckit:evaluate |
Vendor scoring and evaluation |
/arckit:framework |
Transform artifacts into structured framework with principles and guidance |
Phase 4: Beta & Live
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:hld-review |
High-Level Design review |
/arckit:dld-review |
Detailed-Level Design review |
/arckit:principles-compliance |
Architecture principles compliance (RAG evidence) |
/arckit:service-assessment |
GDS Service Standard assessment |
/arckit:secure |
UK Government Secure by Design review |
/arckit:mod-secure |
MOD Secure by Design review |
/arckit:jsp-936 |
JSP 936 AI assurance documentation |
/arckit:tcop |
Technology Code of Practice assessment |
/arckit:atrs |
AI Transparency Risk Standards assessment |
/arckit:ai-playbook |
AI Playbook compliance check |
/arckit:conformance |
Architecture conformance assessment (ADR implementation, drift, debt) |
Phase 5: Operations & Delivery
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:devops |
DevOps maturity assessment and CI/CD pipeline design |
/arckit:finops |
FinOps cloud cost optimization assessment |
/arckit:mlops |
MLOps maturity assessment and ML pipeline design |
/arckit:operationalize |
Service operationalization and runbook generation |
/arckit:backlog |
Sprint-ready backlog generation |
/arckit:presentation |
MARP presentation slides from project artifacts |
/arckit:story |
Executive story for steering committee |
Analysis & Reporting
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:analyze |
Comprehensive gap analysis across all artifacts |
/arckit:traceability |
Requirements traceability matrix |
/arckit:servicenow |
ServiceNow CMDB export design |
/arckit:trello |
Trello board export |
/arckit:glossary |
Consolidated project glossary of terms and acronyms |
/arckit:health |
Project health scan (stale research, orphaned artifacts, drift) |
/arckit:maturity-model |
Capability maturity model with assessment criteria |
/arckit:pages |
GitHub Pages documentation site |
Utilities
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:customize |
Template customization manager |
/arckit:template-builder |
Create new document templates via interactive interview |
Interoperability
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/arckit:export-okf |
Export ArcKit artifacts as an OKF-compatible Markdown bundle |
/arckit:import-okf |
Import OKF bundles as reviewable research notes |
Agents
ArcKit includes 6 autonomous research agents that handle web-intensive tasks:
- arckit-research — Market research, vendor evaluation, build vs buy
- arckit-datascout — Data source discovery, API catalogue search
- arckit-aws-research — AWS service research (via AWS Knowledge MCP)
- arckit-azure-research — Azure service research (via Microsoft Learn MCP)
- arckit-gcp-research — GCP service research (via Google Developer Knowledge MCP)
- arckit-framework — Transform artifacts into structured framework
Hooks
Automation hooks fire during your session to provide context and enforce standards:
- Session Init — Injects ArcKit version and project status on startup
- Context Inject — Adds project artifact inventory before agent planning
- Filename Validator — Validates ARC-xxx naming convention on file writes
- File Protection — Blocks writes to sensitive/protected files
- Manifest Updater — Updates manifest.json after writing project files
Policies
Policy rules enforce extension safety:
- Prevent modification of ArcKit extension system files
- Warn when file content may contain potential secrets
Theme
ArcKit includes a GDS-branded terminal theme using official UK Government Design System colors.
Template Customization
Override default templates by placing customized versions in your project:
# Create override directory
mkdir -p .arckit/templates
# Copy and edit a template
cp ~/.gemini/extensions/arckit/templates/requirements-template.md .arckit/templates/
# Edit to match your organization's needs
# Commands will automatically use your override
Common customizations:
- Remove UK Government sections for non-UK Gov projects
- Add organization-specific Document Control fields
- Change requirement ID prefixes
- Add branding, headers, footers
Workflow Example
# 1. Create project plan
/arckit:plan Create project plan for payment modernization with 6-month timeline
# 2. Establish governance
/arckit:principles Create cloud-first principles for financial services
# 3. Discovery phase
/arckit:stakeholders Analyze stakeholders for payment gateway
/arckit:risk Create risk register for payment modernization
/arckit:sobc Create Strategic Outline Business Case with £2M investment
# 4. Alpha phase
/arckit:requirements Create requirements for payment gateway
/arckit:data-model Create data model for payment transactions with PCI-DSS compliance
/arckit:wardley Create Wardley map showing build vs buy for payment infrastructure
# 5. Research & procurement
/arckit:research Research payment processing platforms
/arckit:aws-research Evaluate AWS payment services
/arckit:gcloud-search Search G-Cloud 14 for payment processing services
# 6. Design reviews
/arckit:hld-review Review high-level design for microservices architecture
/arckit:secure Conduct Secure by Design review
# 7. Delivery
/arckit:backlog Generate sprint backlog with velocity 20 and 8 sprints
MCP Servers
The extension bundles three MCP servers for cloud research:
| Server | Purpose | Auth Required |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Knowledge | AWS service docs, best practices | None |
| Microsoft Learn | Azure and Microsoft docs | None |
| Google Developer Knowledge | GCP docs | GOOGLE_API_KEY |
MCP servers are bridged via mcp-remote (requires Node.js).
Alternative Installation: ArcKit CLI
The extension is recommended for all Gemini CLI users as it provides automatic updates and a clean zero-config experience.
Links
- Main ArcKit repo: github.com/tractorjuice/arc-kit
- Claude Code plugins: Install via
/plugin marketplace add tractorjuice/arckit-claude - Issues: github.com/tractorjuice/arc-kit/issues
- Gemini CLI: github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli
License
MIT License - see LICENSE for details.