Aider Configuration

Comprehensive configuration template for Aider, the AI pair programming tool. This configuration file (`.aider.conf.yml`) controls model selection, git behavior, output formatting, and all Aider features.

What This Configuration Does

This template provides all available Aider configuration options. Place this file as `.aider.conf.yml` in your home directory for global settings, or at the root of your git repository for project-specific settings.

Configuration Instructions

1. Choose Your AI Model

Uncomment and set one of these model options:

```yaml

Anthropic models (recommended)

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

sonnet: true

OpenAI models

model: gpt-4o

4o: true

Other options: opus, haiku, 4-turbo, mini, deepseek, o1-mini, o1-preview

```

2. Set API Keys

Add your API keys (OpenAI and Anthropic only - other keys go in `.env`):

```yaml

openai-api-key: your-key-here

anthropic-api-key: your-key-here

```

For other API providers, use a `.env` file in your git root.

3. Configure Core Settings

**Repository Mapping** (enables Aider to understand your codebase):

```yaml

map-tokens: 1024 # Token budget for repo map (0 to disable)

map-refresh: auto # Options: auto, always, files, manual

```

**Git Integration**:

```yaml

git: true # Enable git integration

auto-commits: true # Auto-commit LLM changes

dirty-commits: true # Allow commits in dirty repos

attribute-author: true # Credit aider in git author

```

**Output Formatting**:

```yaml

dark-mode: true # or light-mode: true

stream: true # Enable streaming responses

pretty: true # Colorized output

```

4. Development Workflow Options

**Linting**:

```yaml

auto-lint: true # Lint after changes

lint-cmd:

- "python: flake8 --select=E,W"

- "javascript: eslint"

```

**Testing**:

```yaml

auto-test: false # Auto-run tests after changes

test-cmd: pytest # Your test command

```

**File Watching**:

```yaml

watch-files: true # Watch for AI coding comments in files

```

5. Advanced Model Settings

**Multi-Model Setup**:

```yaml

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 # Main coding model

weak-model: claude-3-5-haiku-20241022 # For summaries/commits

editor-model: gpt-4o # For editor tasks

```

**Caching**:

```yaml

cache-prompts: true # Enable prompt caching (saves costs)

cache-keepalive-pings: 5 # Keep cache warm

```

**Edit Formats**:

```yaml

edit-format: diff # Options: diff, whole, udiff, architect

architect: false # Use architect mode for complex changes

```

6. Key Configuration Options

| Setting | Purpose | Default |

|---------|---------|---------|

| `map-tokens` | Repo map token budget | 1024 |

| `auto-commits` | Auto-commit changes | true |

| `stream` | Stream responses | true |

| `auto-lint` | Lint after changes | true |

| `git` | Enable git integration | true |

| `cache-prompts` | Cache prompts | false |

| `show-diffs` | Show diffs on commit | false |

| `vim` | Use VI editing mode | false |

| `fancy-input` | Enable history/completion | true |

7. Voice Settings (Optional)

```yaml

voice-format: wav # Audio format (wav, webm, mp3)

voice-language: en # ISO 639-1 code

```

8. Usage Patterns

**Start Aider with config**:

```bash

Uses .aider.conf.yml in git root or home directory

aider

Specify custom config file

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

```

**Override config from CLI**:

```bash

CLI args override config file

aider --model gpt-4o --no-auto-commits

```

**Common workflows**:

```bash

Edit specific files

aider file1.py file2.py

Add read-only context

aider --read docs.md --file code.py

Run with message and exit

aider --message "Add error handling" file.py

Lint and fix

aider --lint

```

Important Notes

Example Minimal Config

```yaml

.aider.conf.yml - Minimal starter config

anthropic-api-key: your-key-here

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

map-tokens: 2048

auto-commits: true

dark-mode: true

stream: true

```

Example Advanced Config

```yaml

.aider.conf.yml - Advanced setup

anthropic-api-key: your-key-here

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

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

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 3

map-tokens: 4096

map-refresh: auto

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check"

- "typescript: eslint"

auto-commits: true

attribute-author: true

dark-mode: true

stream: true

code-theme: monokai

```

This configuration unlocks Aider's full potential for AI-assisted coding with proper git integration, caching, and workflow automation.