Aider Configuration Optimizer

Optimizes your Aider setup by generating a customized `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file tailored to your project needs, team workflow, and preferred AI models.

What This Skill Does

This skill helps you configure Aider, the AI pair programming tool, by:

1. Analyzing your project structure and requirements

2. Recommending optimal model selections and settings

3. Configuring git integration, linting, and testing workflows

4. Setting up appropriate output and history file preferences

5. Generating a production-ready `.aider.conf.yml` file

Instructions

Follow these steps to create an optimized Aider configuration:

Step 1: Gather Project Context

Ask the user:

Step 2: Analyze Project Structure

Check for:

Step 3: Recommend Configuration Options

Based on the gathered context, recommend:

**Model Selection:**

**Git Settings:**

**Linting & Testing:**

**Output Settings:**

Step 4: Generate Configuration File

Create a `.aider.conf.yml` file with:

```yaml

Main model configuration

model: <recommended-model>

weak-model: <recommended-weak-model>

Git integration

git: true

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: true

attribute-author: true

attribute-committer: true

gitignore: true

Output preferences

dark-mode: <true/false>

light-mode: <true/false>

pretty: true

stream: true

code-theme: <theme>

show-diffs: true

Linting and testing

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "<language>: <lint-command>"

test-cmd: "<test-command>"

auto-test: false

History files

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

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

restore-chat-history: false

Model settings

map-tokens: 1024

map-refresh: auto

cache-prompts: false

verify-ssl: true

Other settings

check-update: true

encoding: utf-8

```

Step 5: Provide Usage Guidance

Explain to the user:

**Basic Commands:**

```bash

Start aider with specific files

aider src/main.py src/utils.py

Start with read-only context files

aider --read docs/api.md src/app.py

Run with a specific message (one-shot mode)

aider --message "Add error handling to the login function"

Lint and fix all dirty files

aider --lint

Run tests and fix failures

aider --test

```

**Configuration Overrides:**

**API Key Management:**

Step 6: Optimization Tips

Provide these best practices:

1. **Start Conservative:** Enable auto-commits and auto-lint, but keep auto-test off until workflow is stable

2. **Use Read-Only Files:** Add documentation, schemas, and API references with `--read` for context without modification risk

3. **Leverage Repo Map:** Keep `map-tokens: 1024` for good context awareness without token waste

4. **Git Workflow:** Review diffs before committing with `show-diffs: true`

5. **Model Selection:** Use weaker/cheaper models for simple tasks, stronger models for architecture decisions

6. **Subtree Mode:** Use `subtree-only: true` for monorepos to limit scope

Example Usage

**Scenario 1: Python Data Science Project**

```yaml

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

dark-mode: true

code-theme: monokai

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

test-cmd: "pytest tests/"

auto-test: false

```

**Scenario 2: JavaScript Frontend Development**

```yaml

model: gpt-4o

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

light-mode: true

code-theme: solarized-light

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

test-cmd: "npm test"

auto-test: false

```

**Scenario 3: Cost-Conscious Full-Stack**

```yaml

model: deepseek/deepseek-coder

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: true

auto-lint: true

map-tokens: 512 # Reduced for cost savings

```

Constraints

Notes