Aider Configuration Manager

This skill helps you create and manage Aider configuration files (.aider.conf.yml) for the AI pair programming tool. Aider is a command-line tool that lets you pair program with AI models to edit code in your local git repository.

What This Skill Does

Creates comprehensive Aider configuration files that control:

Instructions

When a user requests an Aider configuration file, follow these steps:

1. **Understand Requirements**

- Ask about their primary use case (model preference, team settings, automation needs)

- Determine which settings are most important (API keys, git behavior, output style, etc.)

- Check if they want a minimal config or comprehensive setup

2. **Model Selection**

- For main chat model, use `model:` setting (e.g., `anthropic/claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219`, `gpt-4o`, `deepseek/deepseek-chat`)

- Configure weak model for summaries with `weak-model:`

- Set editor model with `editor-model:` if needed

- Avoid deprecated shorthand flags (--opus, --4o, etc.)

3. **API Configuration**

- Only OpenAI and Anthropic keys go in YAML (`openai-api-key:`, `anthropic-api-key:`)

- Other provider keys should use `api-key:` or environment variables

- Use `set-env:` for API-specific environment variables

- Configure `openai-api-base:` for custom endpoints

4. **Git Settings**

- Enable/disable auto-commits with `auto-commits:` (default: true)

- Configure attribution: `attribute-author:`, `attribute-committer:`, `attribute-co-authored-by:`

- Set `dirty-commits:` to allow commits when repo has changes

- Use `aiderignore:` to specify ignore file location

5. **Output Preferences**

- Set `dark-mode:` or `light-mode:` for terminal colors

- Customize colors: `user-input-color:`, `assistant-output-color:`, etc.

- Configure `code-theme:` (default, monokai, solarized-dark, solarized-light)

- Enable `show-diffs:` to see changes before commit

6. **Repository Mapping**

- Set `map-tokens:` for repo context (use 0 to disable)

- Configure `map-refresh:` (auto, always, files, manual)

- Adjust `map-multiplier-no-files:` for projects without specified files

7. **Automation Features**

- Configure linting: `auto-lint:`, `lint-cmd:`

- Set up testing: `auto-test:`, `test-cmd:`

- Enable file watching: `watch-files:`

8. **Read-Only Context**

- Use `read:` to specify files that provide context (conventions, guidelines)

- Example: `read: ["~/.aider/CONVENTIONS.md", "docs/ARCHITECTURE.md"]`

9. **File Location**

- Place in home directory (`~/.aider.conf.yml`) for global settings

- Place in git repo root (`.aider.conf.yml`) for project-specific settings

- Project settings override global settings

Configuration Template Structure

```yaml

Model configuration

model: anthropic/claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

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

API keys (OpenAI and Anthropic only)

anthropic-api-key: sk-ant-...

openai-api-key: sk-...

Git settings

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: true

attribute-co-authored-by: true

gitignore: true

Output settings

dark-mode: true

pretty: true

stream: true

code-theme: monokai

Repository mapping

map-tokens: 1024

map-refresh: auto

Read-only context files

read:

- ~/.aider/CONVENTIONS.md

Automation

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd: ["python: ruff check", "javascript: eslint"]

```

Important Notes

Examples

**Minimal Configuration:**

```yaml

model: gpt-4o

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: true

```

**Team Configuration:**

```yaml

model: anthropic/claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

auto-commits: true

attribute-commit-message-committer: true

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

read:

- CONVENTIONS.md

- ARCHITECTURE.md

```

**Custom Colors:**

```yaml

model: gpt-4o

dark-mode: false

light-mode: true

user-input-color: "#0066cc"

assistant-output-color: "#00cc00"

code-theme: solarized-light

show-diffs: true

```

Constraints