Aider AI Coding Assistant

Configure and use Aider as your AI pair programming assistant. This skill helps you set up Aider with optimal settings including dark mode, multiple AI provider support, custom color schemes, and convention enforcement.

What This Skill Does

Aider is a command-line tool that lets you pair program with AI to edit code in your local git repository. This configuration:

Setup Instructions

1. **Install Aider** (if not already installed):

```bash

pip install aider-chat

```

2. **Create the configuration file** at `~/.aider.conf.yml`:

```yaml

dark-mode: true

model: openrouter/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4

api-key:

- anthropic=YOUR_ANTHROPIC_KEY

- deepseek=YOUR_DEEPSEEK_KEY

- gemini=YOUR_GEMINI_KEY

- openai=YOUR_OPENAI_KEY

- openrouter=YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY

read: [".ai/CONVENTIONS.md"]

user-input-color: "#83C092"

tool-output-color: "#D3C6AA"

tool-error-color: "#E67E80"

tool-warning-color: "#DBBC7F"

assistant-output-color: "#7FBBB3"

completion-menu-color: "#9DA9A0"

completion-menu-bg-color: "#2E383C"

completion-menu-current-color: "#D3C6AA"

completion-menu-current-bg-color: "#493B40"

code-theme: coffee

```

3. **Create conventions file** at `.ai/CONVENTIONS.md` in your project root to define coding standards, architecture patterns, and project-specific guidelines that Aider should follow.

4. **Set API keys** as environment variables or replace placeholders in the config file.

Usage

Basic Commands

Start Aider in your git repository:

```bash

aider

```

Add files to edit:

```bash

aider src/main.py tests/test_main.py

```

Use specific model:

```bash

aider --model openrouter/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4

```

Within Aider

Color Scheme Reference

The configuration uses an Everforest-inspired theme:

Best Practices

1. **Always work in a git repository** - Aider requires git for tracking changes

2. **Commit frequently** - Use `/commit` to save good states

3. **Define conventions** - Create `.ai/CONVENTIONS.md` with:

- Coding style guidelines

- Architecture patterns

- Testing requirements

- Documentation standards

4. **Add relevant files only** - Include only files you want to modify

5. **Use `/undo` liberally** - Don't hesitate to undo and try again

6. **Review diffs before committing** - Use `/diff` to check changes

Configuration Options

Switching Models

Change the model in your config or via command line:

```bash

aider --model anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5

aider --model openai/gpt-4

aider --model deepseek/deepseek-coder

```

Read-Only Files

Add reference files without allowing edits:

```bash

aider --read README.md --read docs/architecture.md

```

Auto-Commit

Enable automatic commits:

```yaml

auto-commits: true

```

Constraints

Example Workflow

1. Start Aider: `aider src/api.py`

2. Request change: "Add rate limiting to the API endpoint"

3. Review diff: `/diff`

4. If good, commit: `/commit`

5. If not, undo: `/undo`

6. Add tests: `/add tests/test_api.py`

7. Request: "Add tests for rate limiting"

8. Commit all: `/commit`

Troubleshooting