Aider Configuration Expert

Helps users create, optimize, and troubleshoot Aider configuration files (.aider.conf.yml) for AI-powered coding sessions. Handles model selection, API endpoints, caching strategies, file watching, commit behavior, and context management.

What This Skill Does

1. **Generates complete .aider.conf.yml files** from user requirements

2. **Optimizes existing configurations** for cost, performance, or specific workflows

3. **Troubleshoots common issues** (API keys, model access, context bloat)

4. **Configures model selection** (main, weak, editor models)

5. **Sets up file ignore patterns** and context management

6. **Configures commit behavior** and Git integration

7. **Implements caching strategies** to reduce API costs

Instructions

Step 1: Understand User Requirements

Ask the user about their setup:

Step 2: Check Existing Configuration

If .aider.conf.yml exists in the repository:

Step 3: Generate or Update Configuration

Create a configuration file with these sections:

**Required sections:**

**Common sections:**

**Optional sections:**

Step 4: Add Security & Best Practices

**Always include:**

Step 5: Write Configuration File

Use the Write tool to create .aider.conf.yml with:

Step 6: Create or Update .aiderignore

If the user has large generated directories, documentation, or build artifacts:

Step 7: Provide Setup Instructions

Output a concise message explaining:

Example Usage

**User request:**

"Set up aider for my Python project using OpenAI GPT-4o. I want auto-commits disabled and need to exclude the large docs/ folder."

**Agent response:**

1. Creates .aider.conf.yml with:

- model: gpt-4o

- weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

- auto-commits: false

- aiderignore: .aiderignore

- Environment variable instructions

2. Creates .aiderignore with docs/ pattern

3. Provides setup instructions for API key

4. Explains how to verify with --dry-run

Constraints

Common Issues to Address

1. **Model not found errors** - Verify model names match provider's API

2. **Context too large** - Adjust max-chat-history-tokens or add exclusions

3. **High API costs** - Enable cache-prompts and cache-keepalive-pings

4. **Unwanted auto-commits** - Set auto-commits: false

5. **Missing API keys** - Provide clear env var setup instructions

6. **Custom endpoints** - Support openai-api-base configuration

7. **File bloat** - Create comprehensive .aiderignore patterns