Aider Configuration

This skill provides a comprehensive configuration template for Aider, an AI pair programming tool. It allows you to customize models, git behavior, output styling, testing/linting workflows, and more.

What This Does

Configures Aider through a `.aider.conf.yml` file with settings for:

Instructions

1. **Create Configuration File**

- Create `.aider.conf.yml` in your project root or home directory

- Copy the provided configuration template

- Aider searches for config in: git root → current directory → home directory

2. **Customize Primary Model**

```yaml

# Gemini model (default in this config)

model: gemini/gemini-3-pro-preview

# Or use Claude via OpenRouter

# model: openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.7-sonnet

# Or use any other supported model

# model: gpt-4o

```

3. **Configure Weak Model** (for commits/summaries)

```yaml

weak-model: openrouter/anthropic/claude-3-haiku

```

4. **Adjust Output Preferences**

```yaml

dark-mode: true

code-theme: one-dark # or monokai, solarized-dark, etc.

stream: true # Enable streaming responses

```

5. **Set Git Behavior**

```yaml

auto-commits: false # Set true for automatic commits

dirty-commits: true # Allow commits in dirty repos

attribute-author: true # Attribute changes to aider

```

6. **Configure Linting** (optional)

```yaml

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

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

- "javascript: eslint"

```

7. **Add Test Command** (optional)

```yaml

test-cmd: pytest

auto-test: false # Set true for automatic testing

```

8. **Enable Update Checks**

```yaml

check-update: true

```

9. **Start Aider**

```bash

# Basic usage

aider

# With specific files

aider file1.py file2.js

# With read-only context

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

```

Key Configuration Sections

Model Settings

Cache Settings

Repo Map Settings

Git Integration

Output Styling

Testing & Linting

Voice Settings

Usage Examples

**Basic chat with auto-commits:**

```yaml

auto-commits: true

commit-prompt: "Generate concise, semantic commit messages"

```

**Strict linting workflow:**

```yaml

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

```

**Test-driven development:**

```yaml

test-cmd: pytest -v

auto-test: true

```

**Custom color scheme:**

```yaml

dark-mode: true

code-theme: monokai

user-input-color: "#00ff00"

assistant-output-color: "#66d9ef"

```

**Multi-line input mode:**

```yaml

multiline: true # Submit with Meta-Enter

```

Important Notes

Advanced Options

Common Workflows

**Code review assistant:**

```bash

aider --read README.md --file src/**/*.py

Ask: "Review this code for bugs and suggest improvements"

```

**Commit message generator:**

```bash

aider --commit

Generates commit message for staged changes and commits

```

**Test and fix loop:**

```bash

aider --test

Runs tests, fixes failures, repeats until passing

```

This configuration provides a solid foundation for AI-assisted development with Aider. Customize settings based on your workflow, team conventions, and budget constraints.