Gemini API vs Local LLM for Developer Tools — When to Use Which

All tests run on an 8-year-old MacBook Air. I've built tools with both Gemini API and local LLMs (via Ollama). They're solving different problems. Here's the honest comparison after shipping both. Gemini API What it's good at: Complex reasoning over long context (stack traces, multi-file logs) Up-to-date knowledge of libraries and frameworks Zero setup for the user — just an API key Thinking models for tricky causality chains What it's bad at: Privacy-sensitive data (logs might contain PII) Offl