Aider AI Coding Assistant Configuration

A comprehensive Aider configuration optimized for AI-assisted development workflows with Claude Sonnet, automated testing, linting, and conventional commits.

What This Configuration Does

This skill provides a production-ready `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file that:

Instructions

1. Create Directory Structure

First, create the required directory for Aider configuration files:

```bash

mkdir -p aider_configs

```

2. Create the Main Configuration File

Create `.aider.conf.yml` in your project root with the following content:

```yaml

Model Selection

sonnet: true

Cache Settings (cost optimization)

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 2

Environment

env-file: aider_configs/.env

Git & Commit Settings

git: true

gitignore: true

aiderignore: .aiderignore

auto-commits: false

commit: false

commit-prompt: 'Your mission is to create clean and comprehensive commit messages in the given conventional @commitlint convention and explain WHAT were the changes and WHY the changes were done. Add a short description of WHY the changes are done after the commit message. Dont start it with "This commit", just describe the changes.'

Testing & Linting

lint-cmd: rye run lint

auto-lint: true

test-cmd: rye run unittests

auto-test: true

Read-Only Context Files

read:

- aider_configs/CONVENTIONS.md

UI Settings

vim: true

code-theme: solarized-dark

encoding: utf-8

```

3. Create Environment File

Create `aider_configs/.env` for API credentials:

```bash

aider_configs/.env

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_anthropic_key_here

Add other API keys as needed

```

4. Create Conventions File (Optional but Recommended)

Create `aider_configs/CONVENTIONS.md` with your project's coding conventions:

```markdown

Project Conventions

Commit Message Format

Code Style

[Add your project-specific conventions here]

```

5. Create .aiderignore File

Create `.aiderignore` in your project root to exclude files from Aider's context:

```

Dependencies

node_modules/

venv/

.venv/

Build outputs

dist/

build/

*.pyc

Sensitive files

.env

*.key

*.pem

```

6. Update Your Test and Lint Commands

If you're not using Rye, update the commands in `.aider.conf.yml`:

```yaml

For pytest projects:

test-cmd: pytest

For npm projects:

lint-cmd: npm run lint

test-cmd: npm test

```

7. Start Using Aider

Launch Aider in your project:

```bash

aider

```

The configuration will automatically:

Key Features Explained

**Prompt Caching**: Reduces API costs by caching system prompts and keeping them warm with periodic pings

**Auto-Testing**: Runs your test suite after every code change to catch regressions immediately

**Conventional Commits**: Generates detailed commit messages following conventional commit format

**Read-Only Context**: Loads `CONVENTIONS.md` into every chat for consistent code generation

**VI Mode**: Enables VI keybindings in the Aider terminal

**Dark Theme**: Uses solarized-dark syntax highlighting

Adapting for Different Project Types

Python Projects (Poetry)

```yaml

lint-cmd: poetry run ruff check

test-cmd: poetry run pytest

```

Node.js Projects

```yaml

lint-cmd: npm run lint

test-cmd: npm test

```

Ruby Projects

```yaml

lint-cmd: rubocop

test-cmd: bundle exec rspec

```

Go Projects

```yaml

lint-cmd: golangci-lint run

test-cmd: go test ./...

```

Important Notes

Troubleshooting

**"Model not found" error**: Ensure `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` is set in `aider_configs/.env`

**Tests not running**: Verify your test command works standalone: `rye run unittests`

**Lint errors blocking commits**: Review and fix lint issues, or adjust `lint-cmd` to be less strict

**Cache not working**: Prompt caching requires Claude models; check your API key has access