Aider Configuration Template

A comprehensive `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file for the Aider AI coding assistant, sourced from rob137/dotfiles. This configuration demonstrates all available settings and options for customizing Aider's behavior.

Configuration Highlights

This configuration is optimized with:

Instructions

Step 1: Locate Configuration Directory

Determine where to place your `.aider.conf.yml` file:

1. **Project-specific**: Place in the root of your git repository (recommended for project-specific settings)

2. **Global**: Place in your home directory (`~/.aider.conf.yml`) for default settings across all projects

Step 2: Create Configuration File

Create a file named `.aider.conf.yml` with your desired settings. Key sections to customize:

**Main Model Selection** (choose one):

```yaml

model: gemini/gemini-exp-1206 # Or any supported model

opus: false

sonnet: false

4o: false

```

**Editor Settings**:

```yaml

architect: true # Enable for complex multi-file changes

auto-commits: false # Disable for manual commit control

watch-files: true # Enable file watching for AI comments

```

**Terminal Display**:

```yaml

light-mode: true # Or dark-mode: false

pretty: true

stream: true

```

**Git Integration**:

```yaml

git: true

gitignore: true

dirty-commits: true

attribute-author: true

```

Step 3: Set API Keys

**Option A: In config file** (OpenAI/Anthropic only):

```yaml

openai-api-key: your_key_here

anthropic-api-key: your_key_here

```

**Option B: In .env file** (all providers, recommended):

Create `.env` in your git root:

```bash

OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key_here

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key_here

GEMINI_API_KEY=your_key_here

etc.

```

**Option C: Using --api-key flag**:

```yaml

api-key:

- gemini=your_key_here

- openai=your_key_here

```

Step 4: Customize for Your Workflow

**For Solo Development**:

```yaml

auto-commits: false # Review changes before committing

show-diffs: true # See what changed

auto-lint: true # Auto-fix lint issues

```

**For Team Projects**:

```yaml

attribute-commit-message-committer: true # Mark aider commits

dirty-commits: false # Prevent commits in dirty repos

subtree-only: true # Only consider current directory

```

**For Testing/CI**:

```yaml

auto-test: true # Run tests after changes

test-cmd: pytest # Specify test command

lint-cmd:

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

- "javascript: eslint"

```

Step 5: Configure Model-Specific Settings

**Token Limits**:

```yaml

map-tokens: 1024 # Repo map size (0 to disable)

max-chat-history-tokens: 4096 # Chat history limit

```

**Cache Settings** (for supported models):

```yaml

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 5 # Keep cache warm

```

**Edit Format** (if model defaults aren't optimal):

```yaml

edit-format: diff # or whole, udiff, diff-fenced, architect

```

Step 6: Set Up File Watching (Optional)

Enable automatic AI coding from comments:

```yaml

watch-files: true

```

Then add special comments in your code:

```python

aider: Add error handling to this function

def process_data(data):

return data.process()

```

Step 7: Configure Colors and Display

**For Light Terminals**:

```yaml

light-mode: true

user-input-color: "#00cc00"

assistant-output-color: "#0088ff"

code-theme: default

```

**For Dark Terminals**:

```yaml

dark-mode: true

code-theme: monokai # or solarized-dark

```

Step 8: Set Up History Files

```yaml

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

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

restore-chat-history: true # Resume previous session

llm-history-file: .aider.llm.history # Debug/audit log

```

Step 9: Configure Linting and Testing

```yaml

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

auto-lint: true

test-cmd: pytest -v

auto-test: false # Enable for TDD workflow

```

Step 10: Launch Aider

After configuration:

```bash

Start aider with config

aider

Override config for specific session

aider --model gpt-4o --auto-commits true

Check current config

aider --show-prompts

List available models

aider --list-models gemini

```

Configuration Sections Reference

Main Model Options

API Configuration

Edit Formats

Git Integration

Display Options

Repository Map

Advanced Features

Important Notes

Example Workflows

**Quick Edits**:

```yaml

model: gpt-4o-mini

auto-commits: true

stream: true

```

**Large Refactoring**:

```yaml

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

architect: true

auto-commits: false

show-diffs: true

```

**Team Development**:

```yaml

model: gpt-4o

auto-commits: false

attribute-commit-message-committer: true

dirty-commits: false

auto-lint: true

test-cmd: pytest

```