Aider Configuration for Agentic AI

Complete Aider configuration template for AI-assisted coding workflows. This skill provides a comprehensive `.aider.conf.yml` configuration covering all available Aider settings.

What This Skill Does

Generates a fully-documented `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file that controls Aider's behavior across all aspects: model selection, API settings, repository mapping, git integration, output formatting, testing, linting, and advanced features.

Instructions

When the user requests Aider configuration or setup:

1. **Understand Requirements**

- Ask which AI model(s) they plan to use (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)

- Determine if they need specific features enabled (auto-commits, testing, linting)

- Check if they want custom colors/themes

- Ask about git workflow preferences

2. **Generate Configuration File**

- Create `.aider.conf.yml` in the project root or user's home directory

- Uncomment and set values for requested features

- Leave most settings commented as examples

- Include inline documentation for each section

3. **Key Configuration Sections**

**Model Settings:**

- `model`: Main chat model (e.g., `claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219`, `gpt-4o`)

- `weak-model`: For commit messages and summaries

- `editor-model`: For editor tasks

- `edit-format`: How LLM should format edits

**API Configuration:**

- `openai-api-key` / `anthropic-api-key`: API credentials

- `set-env`: Environment variables for API settings

- `api-key`: Provider-specific keys

**Repository Mapping:**

- `map-tokens`: Tokens for repo map (0 to disable)

- `map-refresh`: auto/always/files/manual

- `map-multiplier-no-files`: Token multiplier when no files specified

**Git Integration:**

- `git`: Enable/disable git repo detection

- `auto-commits`: Auto-commit LLM changes

- `dirty-commits`: Allow commits in dirty repos

- `attribute-author`/`attribute-committer`: Attribution settings

- `aiderignore`: Specify ignore file

**Testing & Linting:**

- `test-cmd`: Command to run tests

- `auto-test`: Run tests after changes

- `lint-cmd`: Language-specific lint commands

- `auto-lint`: Auto-lint after changes

**Output Formatting:**

- `dark-mode` / `light-mode`: Terminal color scheme

- `pretty`: Colorized output

- `stream`: Streaming responses

- Color customization for user input, assistant output, etc.

- `code-theme`: Markdown syntax highlighting theme

**History & Logging:**

- `input-history-file`: Chat input history

- `chat-history-file`: Full chat history

- `restore-chat-history`: Resume previous conversations

- `llm-history-file`: LLM conversation log

**Advanced Features:**

- `cache-prompts`: Enable prompt caching

- `architect`: Use architect edit format

- `voice-format`/`voice-language`: Voice input settings

- `suggest-shell-commands`: Offer shell commands

- `detect-urls`: Auto-detect and offer to add URLs

4. **Provide Usage Guidance**

- Explain how to override settings via CLI flags

- Show how to use `.env` file for API keys

- Document multi-value settings syntax

- Explain precedence: CLI > project `.aider.conf.yml` > home `.aider.conf.yml`

5. **Common Configurations**

**Minimal Setup:**

```yaml

model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

auto-commits: true

dark-mode: true

```

**Development Workflow:**

```yaml

model: gpt-4o

auto-commits: true

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

test-cmd: pytest

dark-mode: true

```

**Advanced Setup:**

```yaml

model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

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

architect: true

cache-prompts: true

map-tokens: 2048

auto-commits: true

auto-lint: true

auto-test: true

restore-chat-history: true

```

6. **Important Notes**

- API keys for OpenAI and Anthropic can go in YAML; others require `.env`

- Use `--yes-always` cautiously (skips all confirmations)

- `--dry-run` is useful for testing without modifications

- Deprecated model shortcuts (`--opus`, `--4o`) should use `--model` instead

- Analytics are randomized by default; use `--analytics-disable` to opt out permanently

Constraints

Examples

**Example 1: Basic Setup**

```

User: Set up Aider for me with Claude Sonnet

Assistant: I'll create a basic .aider.conf.yml with Claude Sonnet and sensible defaults.

[Creates configuration with model, auto-commits, dark-mode enabled]

```

**Example 2: Full Development Setup**

```

User: Configure Aider with testing and linting for a Python project

Assistant: I'll set up Aider with auto-testing, auto-linting, and Python-specific commands.

[Creates configuration with test-cmd, lint-cmd, auto-test, auto-lint, and git integration]

```

**Example 3: Custom Theme**

```

User: I want Aider with a light theme and custom colors

Assistant: I'll configure Aider for a light terminal with customized colors.

[Creates configuration with light-mode, custom color settings, and code-theme]

```