Aider AI Coding Assistant Configuration

Configure Aider with optimal settings for AI-powered pair programming, including model selection, git integration, automatic linting, and workflow preferences.

What This Skill Does

This skill helps you set up an `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file with sensible defaults based on a proven configuration. It configures:

Instructions

When the user requests Aider configuration assistance:

1. **Check for existing configuration**

- Look for `.aider.conf.yml` in the repository root

- If it exists, read it first before making changes

- Ask the user if they want to merge settings or replace entirely

2. **Create or update `.aider.conf.yml`** with these recommended settings:

```yaml

Main model configuration

sonnet: true # Use Claude 3.5 Sonnet for main chat

Git settings

gitignore: false # Don't auto-add .aider* to .gitignore

auto-commits: false # Manual control over commits

dirty-commits: false # Require clean working directory

Linting integration

lint-cmd: pre-commit run --files

auto-lint: true # Automatically lint after changes

Read-only context files (adjust based on project)

read:

- CONVENTIONS.md

- README.md

- Makefile

Update checking

check-update: false # Disable version check on startup

```

3. **Explain key settings** to the user:

- **Model choice**: Claude Sonnet provides excellent code quality and reasoning

- **Git integration**: Disabled auto-commits give you more control over what gets committed

- **Linting**: Automatically runs pre-commit hooks to maintain code quality

- **Read-only files**: Provides context without allowing modifications to critical docs

- **Updates**: Disabled to avoid startup delays

4. **Customize based on project needs**:

- **If the project has specific lint commands**, update `lint-cmd` accordingly

- **If there are important context files**, add them to the `read` list (e.g., ARCHITECTURE.md, API.md)

- **If the project uses different git workflows**, adjust `auto-commits` and `dirty-commits`

- **If using a different model provider**, update the model configuration

5. **Optional advanced settings** (ask if user wants these):

```yaml

# For larger repos

map-tokens: 2048 # Increase repo map tokens

# For teams with specific commit styles

commit-prompt: "Write a conventional commit message following the project's style guide"

# For test-driven development

test-cmd: make test

auto-test: true

# For specific API configurations

openai-api-base: https://custom.endpoint.com

```

6. **Create supporting files** if needed:

- **If pre-commit hooks aren't set up**: Offer to create a basic `.pre-commit-config.yaml`

- **If no CONVENTIONS.md exists**: Suggest creating one for coding standards

- **If no .aiderignore exists**: Create one to exclude build artifacts, dependencies, etc.

7. **Verify the configuration**:

- Run `aider --check-config` or similar validation if available

- Ensure all referenced files in `read` exist

- Confirm lint commands are valid for the project

Example Usage

**User**: "Help me set up Aider for this project"

**Assistant**:

1. Reads existing `.aider.conf.yml` (if present)

2. Creates or updates configuration with recommended settings

3. Asks about project-specific customizations:

- "Do you want to enable automatic testing?"

- "Should I add your API documentation to read-only context?"

- "What's your preferred linting tool?"

4. Creates configuration file

5. Explains key settings and how to customize further

Important Notes

Constraints