Aider Configuration Generator

Generate and manage Aider configuration files to customize your AI pair programming experience.

What This Skill Does

This skill helps you create and customize `.aider.conf.yml` configuration files for Aider, the AI pair programming tool. It covers all available configuration options including model selection, API settings, git integration, output formatting, and workflow automation.

Instructions

When a user requests Aider configuration:

1. **Determine Configuration Scope**

- Ask which aspects of Aider they want to configure:

- Model selection (main model, weak model, editor model)

- API keys and settings (OpenAI, Anthropic, custom endpoints)

- Git integration (auto-commits, commit messages, attribution)

- Output and appearance (colors, themes, streaming)

- Workflow automation (linting, testing, file watching)

- Advanced features (repo map, caching, voice)

2. **Identify Configuration Location**

- Determine if config should be:

- Global: in home directory (`~/.aider.conf.yml`)

- Project-specific: in git repository root (`.aider.conf.yml`)

- Check if a configuration file already exists

- If it exists, ask whether to merge, replace, or create a backup

3. **Generate Configuration File**

- Create `.aider.conf.yml` with requested settings

- Include inline comments explaining each option

- Only include non-default values unless user requests full template

- Group related settings with clear section headers

4. **Common Configuration Patterns**

**Minimal Setup (model + auto-commits off):**

```yaml

model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

auto-commits: false

dark-mode: true

```

**Developer Workflow (with testing):**

```yaml

model: gpt-4o

auto-commits: true

auto-lint: true

auto-test: true

test-cmd: pytest

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check"

- "javascript: eslint"

```

**Team Configuration (custom models + styling):**

```yaml

model: custom-model

openai-api-base: https://api.company.com/v1

dark-mode: true

code-theme: monokai

git: true

attribute-author: true

```

5. **Handle API Keys Securely**

- NEVER include actual API keys in the config file

- Recommend using `.env` file for all API keys

- Explain that only OpenAI and Anthropic keys can go in YAML

- Provide example `.env` file structure if needed:

```

OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

PROVIDER_API_KEY=...

```

6. **Configure Model Settings**

- Help select appropriate models:

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

- Weak model: for commits and summaries (cheaper model)

- Editor model: for file editing tasks

- Set edit format if needed (diff, whole, udiff, editor-diff)

- Configure architect mode for complex changes

- Set reasoning effort or thinking tokens for supported models

7. **Git Integration Setup**

- Configure auto-commits (default: true)

- Set commit attribution preferences

- Configure .aiderignore file location

- Set up custom commit message prompts

- Enable/disable git pre-commit hooks

8. **Output Customization**

- Set color scheme (dark-mode or light-mode)

- Customize colors for different output types

- Configure code highlighting theme

- Enable/disable streaming responses

- Set up completion menu colors

9. **Workflow Automation**

- Configure linting commands per language

- Set up test commands

- Enable auto-lint and/or auto-test

- Configure file watching for AI coding comments

- Set up notification commands

10. **Validate and Test**

- Verify YAML syntax is correct

- Check that file paths are valid

- Ensure model names are correct

- Suggest testing with `aider --config .aider.conf.yml --show-prompts`

11. **Provide Usage Guidance**

- Explain how Aider searches for config files (git root → cwd → home)

- Show how to override config with command-line flags

- Demonstrate using `--config` to specify alternate config file

- Explain precedence: CLI args > repo config > home config > defaults

Configuration File Sections

Essential Settings

API Configuration

Git Settings

Output Settings

Workflow Automation

Advanced Features

Examples

**Example 1: Basic Configuration**

```yaml

Main model

model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

Git settings

auto-commits: false

dirty-commits: true

Appearance

dark-mode: true

code-theme: monokai

```

**Example 2: Full Development Workflow**

```yaml

Models

model: gpt-4o

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

Git integration

auto-commits: true

attribute-author: true

commit-prompt: "Generate a concise commit message"

Testing and linting

auto-lint: true

auto-test: true

test-cmd: npm test

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

Appearance

dark-mode: true

stream: true

show-diffs: true

```

**Example 3: Custom API Configuration**

```yaml

Custom model endpoint

model: custom-llama

openai-api-base: https://api.internal.company.com/v1

model-settings-file: .aider.model.settings.yml

Environment variables

set-env:

- OPENAI_API_TYPE=azure

- CUSTOM_SETTING=value

Disable warnings for custom model

show-model-warnings: false

```

Important Notes

Constraints