Nano Banana

Nano Banana MCP Server exposes Gemini Flash 2.5 image generation through a focused, MCP‑friendly interface. It enables you to generate, edit, and compose images using natural language, and it integrates with any MCP client for streamlined workflows.

How to use

You connect using an MCP client and describe what you want. For example, you can generate a new image from a prompt, edit an existing image by describing the desired change, or combine multiple images into a single composition. The server handles input paths automatically, validates generated images, and returns clear feedback if something goes wrong.

How to install

Prerequisites you need before installation:

• Node.js 18 or higher

• npm (comes with Node.js) or npx (for on‑demand usage)

Next, choose one of the install methods below.

Option 1: Global Install (Recommended)

# Install globally
npm install -g @lyalindotcom/nano-banana-mcp

# Run setup wizard
nano-banana setup

Option 2: NPX (No Install)

# Run on demand via NPX (no global install)
# Great for Gemini CLI and generic MCP config
npx -y -p @lyalindotcom/nano-banana-mcp nano-banana --version

Configure API key

export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-api-key"

Gemini CLI configuration (example)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nano-banana": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "-p", "@lyalindotcom/nano-banana-mcp", "nano-banana-server"],
      "env": { "GEMINI_API_KEY": "${GEMINI_API_KEY}" },
      "timeout": 60000,
      "trust": true
    }
  }
}

Generic MCP configuration (stdio, other clients)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nano-banana": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "-p", "@lyalindotcom/nano-banana-mcp", "nano-banana-server"],
      "env": { "GEMINI_API_KEY": "${GEMINI_API_KEY}" }
    }
  }
}

Option 3: From Source (quickstart path)

If you follow the source workflow, you start by cloning the project and using the quickstart script to set everything up. The quickstart script configures the API key and builds the project, after which you can start using the Gemini CLI through the server.

Usage notes

• After configuring, you can describe desired actions to your MCP client, such as generating images from text prompts, editing existing images, or creating composite visuals. The server saves images to your specified output paths and avoids overwriting existing files.

CLI commands

# Interactive setup (configures Gemini CLI integration)
nano-banana setup

# Initialize .env with your API key (does not configure Gemini CLI)
nano-banana init --api-key YOUR_KEY

# Start the MCP server directly (manual testing)
nano-banana serve

# Check installation status
nano-banana status

# Diagnose issues
nano-banana doctor

# Remove configuration
nano-banana remove

Examples of actions

• Generate a cyberpunk city at ./city.png

• Create 5 potion icons at ./items/potions.png

• Add a sunset to ./photo.jpg

• Combine these images into a panorama

Available tools

generate_image

Generate, edit, or compose images using Gemini Flash 2.5. Accepts a prompt, input images, and output path; supports batch variations and additional options.

validate_image

Check if an image file exists and is valid, returning existence, validity, dimensions, format, and size along with any error messages.