Aider Configuration Template

A production-ready aider configuration that optimizes the AI pair programming experience with careful attention to version control workflow, performance, and developer preferences.

What This Does

Generates an `.aider.conf.yaml` configuration file with battle-tested defaults that:

Instructions

When the user asks to create or configure an aider setup, follow these steps:

1. **Check for existing configuration**

- Look for `.aider.conf.yaml` in the current directory

- If it exists, ask the user if they want to overwrite or merge settings

2. **Create the configuration file** with these settings:

```yaml

# Version control integration

gitignore: false # Rely on global gitignore instead

auto-commits: false # Manual commit control (important for jujutsu/watch-files workflows)

# Attribution settings

attribute-author: false # Clean commit history without AI attribution

attribute-committer: false # No committer attribution

# Updates and telemetry

check-update: false # Manual update control

analytics: false # Disabled due to reliability issues

# Interface preferences

vim: true # Enable vim keybindings for navigation

light-mode: false # Optimized color scheme regardless of terminal theme

# Performance

cache-prompts: true # Enable prompt caching for faster responses

# Context files

read: AGENTS.md # Load agent instructions from project file

```

3. **Explain key decisions**:

- **auto-commits: false** — Essential for workflows using jujutsu or file watchers, prevents commit conflicts

- **gitignore: false** — Assumes global gitignore is properly configured, reduces redundancy

- **vim: true** — Provides familiar keybindings for developers comfortable with vim/vi

- **cache-prompts: true** — Significantly improves response time for repeated operations

- **read: AGENTS.md** — Automatically loads project-specific agent instructions if the file exists

4. **Optional customizations** to discuss with the user:

- Additional context files to read (beyond AGENTS.md)

- Model selection preferences

- Editor integration (if not vim)

- Auto-test settings if they have a test suite

- Map settings for non-standard project structures

5. **Verify the setup**:

- Run `aider --help` to confirm installation

- Check that `.aider.conf.yaml` is in the correct location

- If `AGENTS.md` is referenced but doesn't exist, offer to create a starter template

Example Usage

**User**: "Set up aider for my project"

**Response**:

1. Create `.aider.conf.yaml` with the template above

2. Explain the key settings and why they're chosen

3. Ask if they want to create an `AGENTS.md` file for project-specific instructions

4. Confirm the setup with `aider --version`

**User**: "I prefer light mode and want auto-commits enabled"

**Response**:

1. Update the configuration: `light-mode: true` and `auto-commits: true`

2. Warn about auto-commit implications for version control workflows

3. Suggest commit message format preferences if enabling auto-commits

Important Notes