Aider AI Coding Configuration

A comprehensive configuration template for Aider, the AI pair programming tool. This skill provides a complete `.aider.conf.yml` file covering all configuration options including model selection, git integration, output styling, and automation workflows.

What This Skill Does

Provides a production-ready Aider configuration that:

Configuration Categories

Model Selection

Git Integration

Output Customization

Workflow Automation

History & Caching

Instructions

Step 1: Create Configuration File

Create `.aider.conf.yml` in your home directory or git repository root with the following template:

```yaml

##########################################################

Aider Configuration

Place in home dir or git repo root

##########################################################

#######

Main:

Specify the model to use for the main chat

#model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620

Specify API keys (or use .env file)

#anthropic-api-key: xxx

#openai-api-key: xxx

#################

Model Settings:

Suggested number of tokens to use for repo map

#map-tokens: 1024

Control how often the repo map is refreshed

#map-refresh: auto

Enable caching of prompts

#cache-prompts: false

Maximum tokens for chat history

#max-chat-history-tokens: xxx

################

History Files:

Chat input history file

#input-history-file: .aider.input.history

Chat history file

#chat-history-file: .aider.chat.history.md

Restore previous chat history

#restore-chat-history: false

##################

Output Settings:

Use colors suitable for a dark terminal

dark-mode: true

Enable pretty, colorized output

pretty: true

Enable streaming responses

stream: true

Custom color scheme (Catppuccin example)

user-input-color: "#A6E3A1"

tool-output-color: "#89B4FA"

tool-error-color: "#F38BA8"

tool-warning-color: "#F9E2AF"

assistant-output-color: "#94E2D5"

Markdown code theme

code-theme: monokai

###############

Git Settings:

Enable git integration

#git: true

Add .aider* to .gitignore

#gitignore: true

Auto commit LLM changes

#auto-commits: true

Allow commits when repo is dirty

#dirty-commits: true

Attribute aider in git author/committer

#attribute-author: true

#attribute-committer: true

Show diffs when committing

#show-diffs: false

########################

Fixing and committing:

Auto-lint after changes

#auto-lint: true

Lint commands for different languages

#lint-cmd:

- "python: flake8 --select=E,W,F"

- "javascript: eslint"

Auto-test after changes

#auto-test: false

Test command

#test-cmd: pytest

#################

Other Settings:

Use VI editing mode

vim: true

Check for updates on launch

#check-update: true

Enable verbose output

#verbose: false

Suggest shell commands

#suggest-shell-commands: true

```

Step 2: Customize for Your Workflow

**For Dark Terminal Users:**

**For Light Terminal Users:**

**For Python Projects:**

```yaml

lint-cmd:

- "python: black ."

- "python: flake8 --select=E,W,F"

auto-lint: true

test-cmd: pytest

auto-test: true

```

**For JavaScript/TypeScript Projects:**

```yaml

lint-cmd:

- "javascript: eslint --fix ."

- "typescript: eslint --fix ."

auto-lint: true

test-cmd: npm test

```

Step 3: Configure API Keys

**Option A: In Configuration File** (OpenAI/Anthropic only)

```yaml

anthropic-api-key: sk-ant-xxxxx

openai-api-key: sk-xxxxx

```

**Option B: In .env File** (Recommended for all APIs)

```bash

.env in git root

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-xxxxx

OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxxxx

DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=xxxxx

```

Step 4: Set Model Preferences

**Use Latest Claude:**

```yaml

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620

weak-model: claude-3-haiku-20240307

```

**Use GPT-4:**

```yaml

model: gpt-4o-2024-08-06

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

```

**Use DeepSeek:**

```yaml

model: deepseek/deepseek-coder

```

Step 5: Configure Git Attribution

**Full Attribution:**

```yaml

attribute-author: true

attribute-committer: true

attribute-commit-message-committer: true

```

**Custom Commit Prompts:**

```yaml

commit-prompt: |

Write a concise commit message following conventional commits format.

Use prefixes: feat:, fix:, docs:, refactor:, test:, chore:

```

Step 6: Enable Advanced Features

**Prompt Caching** (reduces API costs):

```yaml

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 3

```

**Restore Chat History** (across sessions):

```yaml

restore-chat-history: true

```

**LLM Conversation Logging** (for debugging):

```yaml

llm-history-file: .aider.llm.history

```

Usage Examples

Basic Usage

```bash

Aider reads .aider.conf.yml automatically

aider file.py

```

Override Config Options

```bash

Use different model

aider --model gpt-4o file.py

Disable auto-commits

aider --no-auto-commits file.py

```

Lint and Fix Workflow

```bash

Lint files and let AI fix issues

aider --lint file.py

```

Test-Driven Development

```bash

Run tests after changes

aider --auto-test --test-cmd "pytest -v" file.py

```

One-Shot Message Mode

```bash

Send single message and exit

aider --message "Add type hints to all functions" file.py

```

Important Notes

1. Git repository root (project-specific)

2. Home directory `~/.aider.conf.yml` (global)

```yaml

file:

- src/main.py

- src/utils.py

lint-cmd:

- "python: flake8"

- "python: mypy"

```

Constraints

Common Pitfalls

1. **Colors not working**: Ensure quotes around hex values

2. **API key not found**: Check `.env` file is in git root, not subfolder

3. **Lint command failing**: Test lint command manually first

4. **Git attribution not showing**: Verify `attribute-*` flags are `true`

5. **Model not found**: Run `aider --list-models <partial-name>` to check availability

References