Aider Configuration Management

Configure Aider's behavior through YAML configuration files to optimize your AI pair programming experience.

What This Skill Does

Helps you create and manage `.aider.conf.yml` configuration files to control Aider's model selection, git integration, output formatting, caching, and advanced features. Configuration files can be placed in your home directory (global) or git repository root (project-specific).

Instructions

1. Choose Configuration Scope

Decide where to place your configuration:

2. Configure Core Settings

Start with essential configurations:

**Model Selection:**

```yaml

Main chat model

model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

Weaker model for summaries and commits

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

Editor model for code edits

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

```

**API Keys (OpenAI/Anthropic only in YAML, others in .env):**

```yaml

anthropic-api-key: your-key-here

openai-api-key: your-key-here

```

**Git Behavior:**

```yaml

Auto-commit LLM changes

auto-commits: true

Allow commits when repo is dirty

dirty-commits: true

Add .aider* files to .gitignore

gitignore: true

Attribution settings

attribute-author: true

attribute-commit-message-author: false

```

3. Optimize for Your Workflow

**Repository Context (Repomap):**

```yaml

Tokens allocated for repo map (0 to disable)

map-tokens: 2048

Refresh frequency: auto, always, files, manual

map-refresh: auto

```

**Output Preferences:**

```yaml

Color scheme

dark-mode: true

Enable streaming responses

stream: true

Pretty colored output

pretty: true

Show diffs when committing

show-diffs: true

```

**Code Quality Automation:**

```yaml

Auto-lint after changes

auto-lint: true

Lint commands per language

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

Test command

test-cmd: pytest

Auto-run tests after changes

auto-test: false

```

4. Advanced Features

**Prompt Caching (reduces costs):**

```yaml

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 3

```

**Chat History:**

```yaml

Restore previous session

restore-chat-history: true

Custom history file location

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

```

**Voice Input:**

```yaml

voice-format: wav

voice-language: en

```

**Multi-Model Setup:**

```yaml

Architect mode for complex changes

architect: true

auto-accept-architect: true

Model aliases for quick switching

alias:

- "fast=claude-3-5-haiku-20241022"

- "powerful=claude-3-opus-20240229"

```

5. Validate and Test

1. **Create the config file** at chosen location

2. **Run Aider** to verify settings are applied

3. **Check for warnings** about model metadata or settings

4. **Test key features**: commits, linting, model responses

5. **Adjust** based on your workflow needs

Common Configurations

Minimal Setup (Fast Iteration)

```yaml

model: claude-3-5-haiku-20241022

auto-commits: true

stream: true

dark-mode: true

```

Production Quality (Thorough)

```yaml

model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

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

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

test-cmd: npm test

show-diffs: true

cache-prompts: true

```

Cost-Optimized

```yaml

model: claude-3-5-haiku-20241022

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

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 5

map-tokens: 1024

```

Important Notes

Constraints

Related Commands