What is it?​

HER WAKA is a comprehensive employment-empowerment programme co-delivered by SheSharp and Ministry of Social Development (MSD, New Zealand), hosted by academyEX, with industry insights from RCSA on the NZ recruitment landscape. It is designed for women MSD clients in the Auckland region preparing to return to the workforce. One workshop per month from March to June 2026, all in person at academyEX Pikopiko.

The programme has three core pillars:

1. Four in-person workshops — AI & The Future of Work, #IAmRemarkable & Vibe Coding, Employment Rights, Networking & Career Connections
2. 10 self-paced AI tutorials — organised across five difficulty levels from ★ to ★★★★★, ranging from "Summarise Gmail with AI" to "Build a Daily Report Bot with Claude Code"
3. A complete job-search resource library — NZ IT job market, job platforms, recruitment agencies, CV/LinkedIn, employment rights, AI learning tools, tech communities

Why merge it into this site?​

HER WAKA was originally a standalone Mintlify site. Merging it here gives us:

• One navigation, three cohorts — switch seamlessly between Winter 2024, Summer 2025 and HER WAKA 2026 via the version dropdown in the top-right
• Shared search and blog — Algolia indexes all three cohorts in one go; the blog continues to grow
• Bilingual support — Chinese is the default; switch to English to read the original English curriculum (originally designed for MSD clients)

Quick links​

• Programme overview
• Four-workshop schedule
• 10 self-paced tutorials
• Job-search resource library

Technical note (for the curious)​

The original site used Mintlify-specific components (<Card>/<Tabs>/<Steps>/<Accordion> etc.). To avoid 1000+ MDX manual rewrites, this migration introduces a lightweight MintlifyShim compatibility layer that maps these components to native Docusaurus features (@theme/Tabs, @theme/Admonition, native <details>, etc.) and globally injects them via a swizzled MDXComponents.js — leaving the MDX files almost untouched. The shim layer can also be reused for any future Mintlify-to-Docusaurus migration.

Happy learning

Tool Overview​

Cursor IDE​

Cursor is a VS Code-based AI-enhanced editor that deeply integrates AI capabilities into every aspect of the editing experience, including code completion, editing, multi-file modifications, and conversational development.

Key features:

• Based on VS Code, fully compatible with existing habits
• Cmd+K / Ctrl+K shortcut for inline editing
• Composer mode for large-scale multi-file changes
• Automatic project context understanding

Gemini CLI​

Gemini CLI is Google's command-line AI tool powered by the Gemini large language model. It runs in the terminal and completes development tasks through natural language conversation.

Key features:

• Pure command-line operation, no GUI needed
• Can directly execute system commands
• Understands project file structure and content
• Free to use (with daily limits)

Feature Comparison​

Code Editing​

Project Management​

When to Choose Which​

Choose Cursor IDE When:​

1. Daily coding work - You spend most of your time writing and modifying code
2. Team collaboration - Projects with strict code standards
3. Complex app development - Large frontend or backend projects

Choose Gemini CLI When:​

1. Environment setup - Project initialization and tool configuration
2. Learning to code - You're a complete beginner wanting hands-on guidance
3. Automation tasks - Batch file processing, data conversion
4. Budget constraints - Gemini CLI is free

Cost Comparison​

Best Practice: Use Both Together​

These tools aren't mutually exclusive. The most efficient approach is to switch based on task type:

Recommended Workflow​

1. Project initialization -> Gemini CLI
2. Daily coding -> Cursor IDE
3. Environment troubleshooting -> Gemini CLI
4. Large-scale refactoring -> Cursor IDE (Composer mode)
5. Deployment and ops -> Gemini CLI

Summary​

There's no single best tool - only the best tool for the current task. Understanding each tool's strengths and limitations and choosing flexibly based on actual needs is the right approach in the AI era.

Why 2025 is the Best Time to Learn AI Programming​

AI Coding Tools Have Matured​

In 2024-2025, AI programming tools have exploded in development:

• Google Gemini CLI — Free command-line AI assistant that can directly manipulate files and execute commands
• GitHub Copilot — Real-time code completion suggestions in your editor
• Cursor IDE — An IDE designed specifically for AI programming
• Claude / ChatGPT — General AI assistants, excellent at code explanation and generation

These tools are mature enough to help complete beginners finish real projects.

Learning Barriers Have Dropped Dramatically​

Traditional programming learning path:

Learn syntax -> Practice algorithms -> Build projects -> Get hired (6-12 months)

AI-assisted programming learning path:

Learn tools -> Build projects -> Learn by doing -> See results fast (2-4 weeks to get started)

Popular AI Programming Tools Compared​

Recommended Combinations​

For zero-experience learners:

1. Getting Started: Claude (web) + Gemini CLI
2. Intermediate: Cursor IDE + GitHub Copilot

Zero-to-Hero Learning Roadmap​

Week 1: Meet AI Programming​

Goal: Understand what AI programming is, set up basic environment

1. Learn basic concepts (terminal, code editors, Git)
2. Register accounts (Google, GitHub, Vercel)
3. Install development tools (Node.js, VS Code, Git)

Week 2: Your First AI Project​

Goal: Complete a small project entirely with AI tools

Recommended: Build a personal website

Why a personal website?

• Visible results - you can see what you've built
• Practical - serves as a portfolio
• Comprehensive tech coverage - frontend, deployment, domains
• AI excels at helping - template generation, content optimization

Week 3: Deepen Your Practice​

• Learn to debug code with AI
• Learn AI-assisted Git workflows
• Try generating more complex features
• Learn to read and understand AI-generated code

Week 4: Build Your Workflow​

• Identify which tasks to delegate to AI
• Which tasks require your own understanding
• How to verify AI-generated code
• How to continue learning and improving

Common Misconceptions​

Misconception 1: "AI will replace programmers"​

AI is a tool, not a replacement. Just as calculators didn't replace mathematicians, AI coding tools won't replace programmers.

Misconception 2: "Using AI to write code is cheating"​

In professional development, using any tool that improves efficiency is the right approach. AI assistants are part of the developer's toolkit, just like autocomplete and Stack Overflow.

Misconception 3: "No need to learn programming basics anymore"​

AI can write code for you, but understanding what the code does is still your responsibility.

Misconception 4: "More expensive tools are better"​

Free tools are sufficient for most learning and personal projects. Start with free options (Gemini CLI + VS Code) before considering paid tools.

Learning Resources​

Online Courses​

• AI Programming Open Course - Our free course series
• Gemini CLI Basic Tutorial - Systematic Gemini CLI learning
• Personal Website Development - Hands-on project

Community​

• Discord Community - Join study groups
• GitHub Discussions - Q&A and discussions

Final Thoughts​

The most important thing about learning AI programming isn't talent - it's taking action. A perfect study plan isn't as valuable as one completed project.

Start now:

1. Check out our Course Introduction
2. Set up your development environment
3. Complete your first AI-assisted project

Every great developer started from zero. AI just makes that start smoother.

What is Gemini CLI?​

Gemini CLI is a command-line tool built by Google on the Gemini large language model. Unlike traditional AI chat interfaces, it runs directly in your terminal and can:

• Understand your project structure and code context
• Read and write local files directly
• Execute system commands
• Help debug and fix code issues
• Automate repetitive development tasks

Installing Gemini CLI​

Prerequisites​

Before installing Gemini CLI, make sure you have Node.js 18 or later installed on your system.

node --version
npm --version

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

npx @google/gemini-cli

brew install node

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

# Ubuntu/Debian
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

# Fedora
sudo dnf install nodejs

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

First-time Setup​

After installation, running Gemini CLI for the first time will guide you through Google account authorization:

gemini

Follow the prompts in the terminal to complete the OAuth login process.

Basic Usage​

Interactive Mode​

Run in any project directory:

gemini

In interactive mode, type natural language instructions:

> Show me the structure of this project
> What JavaScript files are in this directory?
> Create a simple HTTP server for me

Common Use Cases​

Environment diagnosis and fixing:

> Check my development environment for missing tools
> Is there anything wrong with my Git configuration? Fix it
> Clean up old Node.js versions on my system

Code generation and modification:

> Create an Express.js project template in the current directory
> Add error handling to this function
> Refactor this JavaScript file to TypeScript

Git automation:

> Initialize a Git repo and create a .gitignore
> Review recent changes and write a meaningful commit message
> Create and switch to a new branch

Practical Example: Building a Personal Website with Gemini CLI​

Let's demonstrate Gemini CLI's capabilities through a real project.

Step 1: Initialize the Project​

> Create a Docusaurus-based personal website project called my-portfolio

Step 2: Customize Configuration​

> Modify docusaurus.config.js to change the title to "My Portfolio"
  and add Chinese language support

Step 3: Create Content​

> Create a self-introduction page in the docs directory using Markdown,
  including bio, skills list, and project experience

Step 4: Preview Locally​

> Start the dev server so I can preview the website

Step 5: Deploy​

> Help me deploy this project to Vercel with detailed steps

Advanced Tips​

1. Context Awareness​

Gemini CLI reads files in the current directory and automatically understands project context. Launch it in your project root for smart behavior.

2. Batch File Operations​

> Change all var declarations to const or let in src/ directory .js files
> Add type hints to all Python files

3. Learning and Debugging​

> Explain what this regex does: /^[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$/
> Why does this code cause a memory leak? Find the cause and fix it

FAQ​

Q: How is Gemini CLI different from ChatGPT?​

Gemini CLI runs locally in your terminal with direct access to your file system and development environment. ChatGPT is a web chat interface better suited for general Q&A.

Q: Does Gemini CLI cost money?​

The basic version is free with daily usage limits. It's more than enough for personal learning and small projects.

Q: Can I use Gemini CLI with zero programming experience?​

Yes! One of Gemini CLI's biggest strengths is that you can describe what you want in natural language. However, learning basic terminal operations first is recommended.

Summary​

Gemini CLI is an excellent tool for learning AI-assisted programming. It lowers the barrier to coding, enabling beginners to collaborate with AI through natural language to complete development tasks.

Want to learn Gemini CLI more deeply? Check out our Gemini CLI Environment Management course for a systematic, project-based approach.

As a mentor for the 2025 Summer Forward with Her Activity, I shared deep reflections on identity recognition and social group divisions at the mentor group Q&A session on July 27, 2025.

Core Ideas Overview​

Theoretical Framework​

Social Identity Theory​

Three Core Processes of Social Identity

1. Social Categorization - Dividing people into different groups
2. Social Identification - Recognizing and identifying with one's group membership
3. Social Comparison - Gaining positive distinctiveness through inter-group comparison

Multiple Narrative Perspectives​

Psychological Mechanism Analysis​

• In-group Favoritism — Favoring members of one's own group to enhance self-esteem
• Out-group Homogeneity Bias — Believing "they're all the same," ignoring out-group diversity
• Terror Management Theory — Managing death anxiety through group identification
• Evolutionary Psychology Perspective — Group loyalty may have evolutionary adaptiveness

Insights from Intersectionality Theory​

Important Insights from Intersectionality​

• No universal, homogeneous group experience exists
• Must focus on the interaction of multiple power structures
• Avoid covering one group's specificity with another group's "us"

New Challenges in the Digital Age​

Future Outlook: Transcending Binary Opposition​

Paths to Building an Inclusive "Greater Us"

• Cultivate critical thinking, examine narrative frameworks
• Promote cross-group dialogue, break stereotypes
• Build just social structures, reduce power inequality
• Embrace identity complexity, find common ground

Conclusion​

The future challenge lies in how to acknowledge and respect differences while striving to find and build a more inclusive "greater us" that promotes common welfare. This requires us to view the world's differences and problems with a more macro, nuanced, and empathetic perspective.

This article is compiled from the speech content of the Forward with Her Activity Mentor Group Q&A session on July 27, 2025.

Coze Workflow Development Tutorial​

Environment Configuration Section​

Part 1: Basic Configuration​

Part 2: Advanced Setup​

Part 3: Complete Workflow​

Docusaurus Tutorial Series​

Complete Website Development Tutorial​

Part 1: Project Initialization​

Create project and perform basic configuration.

Part 2: Content Writing​

Learn how to write and organize documentation content.

Part 3: Theme Customization​

Customize website theme and styles.

Part 4 (Part A): Deployment Preparation​

Pre-deployment preparation and configuration.

Part 4 (Part B): Vercel Deployment​

Deploy website to Vercel platform.

AI Drawing Tutorial​

LOGO Design Basics​

Tutorial Video 1: LOGO Design Introduction​

Tutorial Video 2: Advanced Techniques​

AI Dialogue System​

Environment Configuration Tutorial​

Environment Configuration Guide​

Tips​

• Video resources are from YouTube, please ensure your network environment can access it properly
• It's recommended to watch in order, as each series builds progressively
• If videos won't play, you can visit the YouTube links directly
• Feel free to leave comments for discussion and exchange

Regular Updates​

We regularly update and add new video tutorial resources. Welcome back to check for the latest content. If you find any issues or have good suggestions, please let us know.

About Further Education​

When applying for overseas graduate programs, you need to pay attention to the following key points:

The Value of Work Experience​

• Domestic development work experience can provide some advantage
• However, the impact is relatively limited
• Focus on highlighting practice experience relevant to your field

Overseas Employment Considerations​

Key Factors in Major Selection​

1. Job Market Demand Orientation

   • Research talent demand in your target country
   • Understand popular industries and positions
   • Analyze future market trends

2. Immigration Policy Considerations

   • Whether you intend to immigrate locally
   • Understand local immigration policies
   • Assess the relevance between your major and immigration

3. Personal Career Planning

   • Clarify long-term career goals
   • Evaluate professional development prospects
   • Consider personal interests and abilities

Suggestions and Reminders​

Pre-Application Preparation​

1. Thoroughly research your target country
2. Understand the job market situation
3. Study changes in immigration policies
4. Assess your personal competitiveness

Planning Key Points​

• Set clear goals
• Create a detailed timeline
• Prepare sufficient funds
• Get language preparation done in advance

Action Plan​

Step 1: Information Gathering​

• Research target institutions and programs
• Understand application requirements and deadlines
• Collect previous years' admission data

Step 2: Capability Enhancement​

• Improve language proficiency
• Accumulate relevant work experience
• Prepare for standardized tests

Step 3: Application Preparation​

• Write personal statement
• Prepare recommendation letters
• Organize application materials

Step 4: Long-term Planning​

• Develop career development path
• Build professional network
• Follow industry trends

Prerequisites​

You will need:

• A computer (Windows system)
• Google Chrome browser
• Git Bash software (we'll show you how to install it)

Detailed Steps​

Step 1: Install Necessary Software​

1. If you haven't installed Git Bash yet:
   • Visit the official website: Git Download Page
   • Click "Download for Windows"
   • Double-click the installer after download completes
   • Click "Next" through the installation using default settings

Step 2: Get Video Download Information​

1. Open the Tencent Meeting recording link in Google Chrome
2. Click play on the video and wait for it to start playing
3. Press the F12 key on your keyboard (some laptops may need Fn + F12)
4. Find and click the "Network" tab at the top of the developer tools window
5. Find and click the "Media" option under Network
6. Refresh the page and start playing the video again
7. Wait a few seconds and find the file ending with .mp4
8. Right-click on this .mp4 file
9. Select "Copy" → "Copy as cURL(bash)"

Step 3: Modify the Download Command​

curl 'https://example.com/video.mp4' \
-H 'range: bytes=14200808-314114094' \
-H 'if-range: "17c5ccf6d75f9bccce2a71f5a32dbea4-3"' \
-H 'accept: */*' \

curl 'https://example.com/video.mp4' \
-H 'accept: */*' \
--output /d/meeting_video.mp4

Step 4: Download the Video​

1. Open Git Bash (find it in the Start menu)
2. Paste the modified command
3. Press Enter to execute
4. Wait for the download to complete

Download process example:

Frequently Asked Questions​

# D drive root directory
--output /d/video-name.mp4

# Videos folder on D drive
--output /d/Videos/video-name.mp4

# Desktop
--output /c/Users/your-username/Desktop/video-name.mp4

Important Notes​

• Ensure you have enough disk space
• Don't close Git Bash during the download
• Keep your network connection stable
• Don't shut down or sleep your computer before download completes
• If download speed is very slow, try getting the download command again

Advanced Tips​

• Create a dedicated folder for downloaded videos
• Give video files meaningful names
• Verify the video plays correctly after download
• Back up important video files promptly

Final Reminder​

Design Philosophy​

Inspired by minimalist geometric artists, our design system emphasizes:

• Clean lines and basic geometric shapes (squares, circles, triangles)
• Limited but high-contrast color palette
• Grid-based layouts
• Negative space as a design element
• Systematic repetition of visual elements
• Focus on functionality and readability

Color System​

Primary Colors​

Secondary Colors​

Typography System​

--ifm-font-family-base: 'Space Grotesk', system-ui, -apple-system;

--ifm-font-family-monospace: 'JetBrains Mono', SFMono-Regular, Monaco;

Font Sizes​

• Headings:
  • h1: 2.5rem (40px)
  • h2: 2rem (32px)
  • h3: 1.5rem (24px)
• Body: 1rem (16px)
• Code: 0.9375rem (15px)

Layout Guidelines​

Grid System​

• 12-column grid
• Gutter width: 24px
• Maximum content width: 1200px
• Responsive breakpoints:
  • Mobile: 320px
  • Tablet: 768px
  • Desktop: 1024px

Spacing Scale​

--space-xs: 0.25rem;  /* 4px */
--space-sm: 0.5rem;   /* 8px */
--space-md: 1rem;     /* 16px */
--space-lg: 1.5rem;   /* 24px */
--space-xl: 2rem;     /* 32px */

Component Design​

Navigation Bar​

• Fixed header with geometric logo
• Horizontal menu for desktop
• Hamburger menu for mobile
• Geometric shapes as active state indicators

Hero Section​

.hero {
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--primary-color) 0%, var(--secondary-color) 100%);
  clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 85%, 0 100%);
  min-height: 80vh;
}

Code Blocks​

• Dark background: #1e1e1e
• Syntax highlighting inspired by geometric patterns
• Border radius: 4px
• Padding: 1.5rem

Cards​

.card {
  border: none;
  border-radius: 4px;
  box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
  transition: transform 0.2s ease;
}

.card:hover {
  transform: translateY(-4px);
}

Implementation Guide​

1. Update docusaurus.config.js​

module.exports = {
  themeConfig: {
    navbar: {
      style: 'dark',
      logo: {
        alt: 'Site Logo',
        src: 'img/logo.svg',
      },
      items: [
        // Navigation items
      ],
    },
    prism: {
      theme: require('prism-react-renderer/themes/nightOwl'),
    },
  },
};

2. Custom CSS Variables​

In src/css/custom.css:

:root {
  --ifm-color-primary: #1a237e;
  --ifm-color-primary-dark: #172069;
  --ifm-color-primary-darker: #151e63;
  --ifm-color-primary-darkest: #111851;
  --ifm-color-primary-light: #1d2893;
  --ifm-color-primary-lighter: #1f2a99;
  --ifm-color-primary-lightest: #232fab;

  --ifm-code-font-size: 0.9375rem;
  --ifm-font-size-base: 16px;
  --ifm-line-height-base: 1.5;
  --ifm-spacing-horizontal: var(--space-md);
}

3. Homepage Structure​

In src/pages/index.js:

import React from 'react';
import Layout from '@theme/Layout';
import Link from '@docusaurus/Link';

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <Layout
      title="AI Programming Education"
      description="Learn AI programming through collaborative examples">
      <header className="hero">
        <div className="container">
          <h1 className="hero__title">Master AI Programming</h1>
          <p className="hero__subtitle">
            Through collaborative learning and practical examples
          </p>
          <div className="buttons">
            <Link className="button button--primary button--lg">
              Get Started
            </Link>
          </div>
        </div>
      </header>

      {/* Features section */}
      <main>
        <section className="features">
          <div className="container">
            {/* Feature cards */}
          </div>
        </section>
      </main>
    </Layout>
  );
}

Animation Guidelines​

• Use subtle transition effects (0.2-0.3s)
• Prefer transform over opacity changes
• Implement geometric reveal animations
• Keep interactions smooth and purposeful

Responsive Design​

• Mobile-first approach
• Fluid typography
• Flexible grid system
• Adaptive layout changes at breakpoints

Accessibility​

• WCAG 2.1 AA compliant
• High contrast ratios
• Clear focus states
• Semantic HTML structure
• Screen reader optimized

Performance Optimization​

• Optimized images
• Lazy loading implementation
• Minimized CSS/JS bundles
• System fonts when possible
• Static asset caching