Aider Configuration

Comprehensive configuration for Aider, an AI pair programming tool that works with Claude, GPT-4, and other LLMs to help you edit code in your local git repository.

What This Does

Sets up a complete `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file that controls Aider's behavior including:

Instructions

1. **Determine Configuration Location**

- Place `.aider.conf.yml` in your home directory for global settings

- Or place at the root of your git repository for project-specific settings

- Repository configs override home directory configs

2. **Start with Core Settings**

- Set your primary model (e.g., `model: claude-sonnet-4-5`)

- Configure dark/light mode: `dark-mode: true` or `light-mode: true`

- Enable/disable auto-commits: `auto-commits: false` (requires manual approval) or `true` (automatic)

3. **Configure API Keys** (choose one method)

- **Option A:** Add to config file (OpenAI/Anthropic only):

```yaml

anthropic-api-key: sk-ant-...

openai-api-key: sk-...

```

- **Option B:** Use `.env` file (supports all providers):

```

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...

```

4. **Customize Git Behavior**

- `gitignore: true` - Auto-add `.aider*` files to `.gitignore`

- `dirty-commits: true` - Allow commits when repo has uncommitted changes

- `attribute-author: true` - Attribute AI changes in git author name

- `git-commit-verify: false` - Skip pre-commit hooks with `--no-verify`

5. **Set Up Architect Mode** (optional, for complex refactors)

- `architect: true` - Use architect edit format for planning multi-file changes

- `auto-accept-architect: false` - Require manual approval of architect changes

6. **Configure Editor Model** (optional, for faster edits)

- `editor-model: claude-3-5-haiku-20241022` - Use faster model for simple edits

- Leave unset to use main model for all tasks

7. **Enable Linting & Testing** (optional)

```yaml

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

auto-test: false

test-cmd: pytest

```

8. **Customize Terminal Colors** (optional)

```yaml

user-input-color: "#00cc00"

assistant-output-color: "#0088ff"

code-theme: monokai # or solarized-dark, solarized-light

```

9. **Set Repo Map Tokens** (controls context window usage)

- `map-tokens: 2048` - Suggested tokens for repository map (0 to disable)

- `map-refresh: auto` - When to refresh map (auto/always/files/manual)

10. **Configure Chat History**

- `restore-chat-history: false` - Start fresh each session

- `chat-history-file: .aider.chat.history.md` - Where to store history

- `llm-history-file: .aider.llm.history` - Log raw LLM conversations (debug)

11. **Set Voice Input** (optional)

```yaml

voice-format: wav # or webm, mp3 (requires ffmpeg)

voice-language: en # ISO 639-1 code

```

12. **Launch Aider**

```bash

# Start chat mode

aider

# Start with specific files

aider src/main.py tests/test_main.py

# Add read-only context

aider --read docs/architecture.md

# Single message mode

aider --message "Add error handling to the API endpoint"

```

Common Configuration Patterns

Minimal Setup (Auto-Commits Disabled)

```yaml

model: claude-sonnet-4-5

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: false

gitignore: true

```

Power User (Fast Editor + Auto-Lint)

```yaml

model: claude-sonnet-4-5

editor-model: claude-3-5-haiku-20241022

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: false

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

map-tokens: 4096

```

Team Project (Conservative)

```yaml

model: claude-sonnet-4-5

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: false

git-commit-verify: true

show-diffs: true

```

Important Notes

Constraints

Examples

**Start Aider with configuration:**

```bash

Uses .aider.conf.yml from current directory or home

aider

Specify custom config file

aider --config /path/to/custom.conf.yml

```

**Override config settings:**

```bash

Use different model for this session

aider --model gpt-4o

Enable auto-commits for this session

aider --auto-commits

```

**Check configuration:**

```bash

List available models

aider --list-models claude

Show system prompts

aider --show-prompts

Dry run (no file modifications)

aider --dry-run

```