Aider Configuration Template

A comprehensive configuration template for Aider, the AI pair programming tool. This skill provides a complete `.aider.conf.yml` template with all available configuration options documented.

What This Does

Generates a fully documented `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file with all available Aider settings. This template includes:

Instructions

1. **Determine Configuration Scope**

- Ask the user if they want a minimal starter config or the full template

- Identify which features are most relevant to their workflow

- Check if they have existing `.aider.conf.yml` that needs updating

2. **Create Configuration File**

- Place `.aider.conf.yml` in either:

- Git repository root (project-specific settings)

- User's home directory (global settings)

- Include only uncommented options the user actually needs

- Add explanatory comments for complex options

3. **Configure API Keys**

- Remind user that only OpenAI and Anthropic keys go in YAML

- Other API keys should go in `.env` file

- Never expose actual API keys in the config file

4. **Model Selection**

- Help choose appropriate model based on task complexity:

- `--sonnet`: Claude 3.5 Sonnet (balanced, recommended)

- `--opus`: Claude 3 Opus (most capable)

- `--4o`: GPT-4o (OpenAI flagship)

- `--mini`: GPT-4o-mini (fast, economical)

- Configure weak model for summaries (usually smaller/cheaper)

- Set editor model if using architect mode

5. **Repository Map Settings**

- Set `map-tokens` based on codebase size (default: 1024)

- Configure `map-refresh` strategy:

- `auto`: Refresh when needed (recommended)

- `always`: Refresh every turn (slower)

- `files`: Refresh when files change

- `manual`: Only refresh on command

6. **Git Integration**

- Enable `auto-commits` for automatic change commits

- Set `attribute-author` and `attribute-committer` for attribution

- Configure `commit-prompt` for custom commit message style

- Set up `.aiderignore` file if needed

7. **Terminal and Output**

- Choose `dark-mode` or `light-mode` based on terminal

- Customize colors if needed:

- `user-input-color`: User messages

- `assistant-output-color`: AI responses

- `tool-output-color`: Command output

- Set `code-theme` for syntax highlighting

8. **Linting and Testing**

- Configure `lint-cmd` for each language:

```yaml

lint-cmd:

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

- "javascript: eslint"

```

- Set `auto-lint: true` to lint after every change

- Configure `test-cmd` and `auto-test` if using TDD

9. **Advanced Features**

- Enable `cache-prompts` to reduce API costs (Anthropic only)

- Set `cache-keepalive-pings` to maintain warm cache

- Configure `watch-files` for comment-driven coding

- Enable `suggest-shell-commands` for CLI assistance

10. **Validate Configuration**

- Test with: `aider --config .aider.conf.yml --exit`

- Check for syntax errors or invalid options

- Verify API keys work (if configured)

- Ensure git integration functions correctly

Example Usage

**Minimal starter configuration:**

```yaml

Basic .aider.conf.yml for getting started

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

auto-commits: true

auto-lint: true

dark-mode: true

```

**Advanced Python development setup:**

```yaml

.aider.conf.yml for Python project

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

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

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: true

attribute-author: true

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "python: black --check"

auto-test: true

test-cmd: pytest tests/

map-tokens: 2048

cache-prompts: true

show-diffs: true

```

**Multi-language web development:**

```yaml

.aider.conf.yml for full-stack project

model: gpt-4o

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

auto-commits: true

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: flake8"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

- "css: stylelint --fix"

test-cmd: npm test

map-tokens: 2048

dark-mode: true

git: true

subtree-only: false

```

Important Notes

Configuration Sections