Aider Configuration

Professional configuration for Aider AI coding assistant optimized for terminal-based AI pair programming with Claude models.

Configuration Overview

This skill provides a production-ready `.aider.conf.yml` configuration that:

Instructions

1. **Create the configuration file** in your project root or home directory:

- Project-specific: `<project>/.aider.conf.yml`

- Global: `~/.aider.conf.yml`

2. **Set required environment variables** in your shell profile or `.env`:

```bash

export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."

```

3. **Copy the configuration**:

```yaml

Main model

model: opus

API Keys

openai-api-key: ${OPENAI_API_KEY}

anthropic-api-key: ${ANTHROPIC_API_KEY}

Model settings

weak-model: 35-turbo

editor-model: sonnet

editor-edit-format: diff

auto-accept-architect: false

verify-ssl: true

History files

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

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

restore-chat-history: true

Output settings

dark-mode: true

pretty: true

stream: true

Git settings

git: true

gitignore: true

aiderignore: .aiderignore

subtree-only: false

auto-commits: false

dirty-commits: false

attribute-author: true

attribute-committer: true

dry-run: false

Testing

auto-test: false

Environment

env-file: .env

```

4. **Launch Aider** in your project:

```bash

cd your-project

aider

```

5. **Verify configuration** by checking the model in use:

```

Model: claude-3-opus-20240229 with diff edit format

Weak model: gpt-3.5-turbo

Editor model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

```

Key Features

**Model Strategy:**

**History Management:**

**Git Integration:**

**Terminal Experience:**

Usage Examples

**Basic coding session:**

```bash

aider src/main.py

Chat with Opus about architecture

Use /editor for quick edits (switches to Sonnet)

Review changes before committing

```

**Multiple files:**

```bash

aider src/**/*.py tests/**/*.py

Aider builds context map across all files

Opus reasons about cross-file changes

```

**Read-only context:**

```bash

aider src/main.py --read docs/API.md

Include documentation without allowing edits

```

Customization

**Change main model:**

```yaml

model: sonnet # Faster, cheaper for routine work

```

**Enable auto-commits:**

```yaml

auto-commits: true # Commit every LLM change immediately

```

**Add linting:**

```yaml

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

```

**Add testing:**

```yaml

auto-test: true

test-cmd: pytest tests/

```

Important Notes

Cost Optimization

**High quality (expensive):**

```yaml

model: opus

editor-model: sonnet

```

**Balanced (recommended):**

```yaml

model: sonnet

editor-model: sonnet

weak-model: 35-turbo

```

**Budget (fast iteration):**

```yaml

model: haiku

editor-model: haiku

weak-model: 35-turbo

```