Aider Configuration Template

A complete reference configuration file for Aider, the AI pair programming tool. This template includes all valid configuration entries that can be placed in your home directory or at the root of your git repository as `.aider.conf.yml`.

What This Skill Does

Provides a comprehensive template for configuring Aider's behavior, including:

Instructions

1. **Create the configuration file** in one of these locations:

- Project root: `<your-git-repo>/.aider.conf.yml`

- Home directory: `~/.aider.conf.yml`

2. **Start with essential settings**. Uncomment and configure these core options:

```yaml

# Choose your main model

model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

# API keys (or use .env file)

anthropic-api-key: your-key-here

# Git behavior

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: true

# Output preferences

dark-mode: true # or light-mode: true

stream: true

```

3. **Configure model settings** based on your needs:

- Use `--model` for main chat model

- Use `--weak-model` for commit messages and summaries

- Use `--editor-model` for editor tasks

- Set `--edit-format` if you want to override the default (architect, diff, udiff, whole, etc.)

4. **Set up repo map tokens** to control context size:

```yaml

# Suggested tokens for repo map (0 to disable)

map-tokens: 2048

# Refresh strategy: auto, always, files, manual

map-refresh: auto

```

5. **Configure git attribution** for team transparency:

```yaml

# Add "aider" to git author name

attribute-author: true

# Use Co-authored-by trailer

attribute-co-authored-by: true

# Prefix commit messages

attribute-commit-message-author: true

```

6. **Enable linting and testing** for automatic quality checks:

```yaml

# Auto-lint after changes

auto-lint: true

# Specify lint commands per language

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

# Auto-run tests after changes

auto-test: false

test-cmd: "pytest"

```

7. **Customize output colors** for your terminal theme:

```yaml

dark-mode: true

user-input-color: "#00cc00"

assistant-output-color: "#0088ff"

code-theme: monokai

```

8. **Configure caching** for faster responses (if supported by your model):

```yaml

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 5

```

9. **Set up voice input** (optional):

```yaml

voice-format: wav

voice-language: en

```

10. **Add files to editing scope** using command-line or config:

```yaml

# Files to edit

file:

- src/main.py

- tests/test_main.py

# Read-only files for context

read:

- README.md

- docs/architecture.md

```

Important Notes

Configuration Sections

Main Model

API Settings

Model Settings

Git Integration

Output

Linting & Testing

Advanced

Examples

**Minimal config for Claude Sonnet:**

```yaml

model: claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219

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

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: true

```

**Python development with linting:**

```yaml

model: gpt-4o

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

auto-test: true

test-cmd: "pytest -v"

```

**Team collaboration with attribution:**

```yaml

attribute-author: true

attribute-co-authored-by: true

attribute-commit-message-author: true

show-diffs: true

```

Constraints