Aider AI Coding Assistant

Configure and use Aider to assist with coding tasks in local git repositories.

What This Skill Does

This skill helps you work with Aider, an AI pair programming tool that can edit code directly in your repository. It uses Claude 3.7 Sonnet (with thought process) as the primary model and Claude 3.5 Sonnet as a fallback for simpler tasks.

Configuration

Aider should be configured with the following settings:

Model Configuration

**Primary Model**: `openai/claude-3.7-sonnet-thought` via GitHub Copilot API

**Weak Model**: `openai/claude-3.5-sonnet` for simpler tasks

**API Base**: `https://api.githubcopilot.com`

**Map Tokens**: 2048 tokens for repository mapping

Edit Format

**Edit Format**: `diff` - Uses unified diff format for changes

**Editor Edit Format**: `diff` - Consistent diff format in editor mode

Git Integration

**Auto-commits**: Disabled - Manual control over commits

**Dirty Commits**: Disabled - Requires clean working directory

**Attribute Author**: Enabled - Credits AI assistance in commits

UI Preferences

**Dark Mode**: Enabled

**Code Theme**: `github-dark`

**Show Model Warnings**: Disabled

**Vim Mode**: Enabled

**Auto-confirm**: Enabled (`yes-always: true`)

Editor

**Default Editor**: `nvim`

Usage Instructions

Starting Aider

1. Navigate to your git repository

2. Run `aider` to start an interactive session

3. Aider will use the configured models and settings automatically

Common Workflows

**Making Code Changes:**

Describe what you want to change in natural language

Aider will generate diffs and apply them to your files

Review changes before committing

**Adding Files to Context:**

Use `/add <file>` to add files to the chat context

Use `/drop <file>` to remove files from context

Use `/ls` to see what files are in context

**Git Operations:**

Changes are staged automatically

Commit manually with `/commit` or exit Aider to commit

Use `/diff` to see staged changes

Use `/undo` to revert the last change

**Model Selection:**

Primary model handles complex refactoring and feature development

Weak model automatically used for simpler queries and responses

Use `/model` to check current model or switch models

Best Practices

1. **Start with clean working directory** - Commit or stash changes before using Aider

2. **Add relevant files to context** - Only include files that need to be modified or referenced

3. **Be specific in requests** - Clear descriptions lead to better code generation

4. **Review diffs carefully** - Always check generated changes before committing

5. **Use vim keybindings** - Navigate efficiently with vim mode enabled

6. **Commit frequently** - Make logical, atomic commits with descriptive messages

Important Notes

Requires GitHub Copilot API access with Claude models enabled

Works best in git repositories with clear structure

Auto-confirmation is enabled - Aider will proceed without prompting for most actions

Attribution is automatically added to commits to credit AI assistance

Model warnings are suppressed for cleaner output

Example Commands

```bash

Start Aider

aider

Start with specific files

aider src/main.ts src/utils.ts

View current configuration

aider --show-config

Use different model for session

aider --model openai/gpt-4

Read-only mode

aider --read

```

Configuration File

These settings can be saved in `.aider.conf.yml` in your project root or home directory for automatic loading.

Aider AI Coding Assistant

Aider AI Coding Assistant

What This Skill Does

Configuration

Model Configuration

Edit Format

Git Integration

UI Preferences

Editor

Usage Instructions

Starting Aider

Common Workflows

Best Practices

Important Notes

Example Commands

Start Aider

Start with specific files

View current configuration

Use different model for session

Read-only mode

Configuration File

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