Aider Configuration Template

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

What This Does

Creates a complete Aider configuration file template that you can customize for your project. The template includes settings for:

Instructions

When a user requests Aider configuration help:

1. **Assess their needs** by asking:

- Which AI model do they want to use? (Claude, GPT-4, etc.)

- Do they want auto-commits enabled?

- What color scheme? (dark-mode or light-mode)

- Do they want linting/testing automation?

2. **Create the configuration file**:

- Generate `.aider.conf.yml` in the project root or home directory

- Uncomment and set only the options they need

- Keep unused options commented for reference

3. **Key settings to highlight**:

```yaml

# Model selection (uncomment one)

sonnet: true # Claude 3.5 Sonnet (recommended)

# 4o: true # GPT-4o

# opus: true # Claude Opus

# Essential settings

auto-commits: true

dark-mode: true

code-theme: monokai

git: true

```

4. **Explain important options**:

- **API Keys**: Can be set here (OpenAI/Anthropic only) or in `.env` file (all providers)

- **map-tokens**: Controls repository context size (default: 1024)

- **auto-lint**: Automatically lint after changes (default: true)

- **auto-test**: Run tests after changes (default: false)

- **stream**: Enable streaming responses (default: true)

5. **Security reminders**:

- Never commit API keys to git

- Use `.env` file for sensitive credentials

- Add `.aider*` to `.gitignore` (Aider does this automatically)

6. **Common configurations**:

**Minimal (Claude Sonnet)**:

```yaml

sonnet: true

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: true

```

**Python developer**:

```yaml

sonnet: true

dark-mode: true

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "python: black"

test-cmd: "pytest"

auto-test: true

```

**Team project**:

```yaml

sonnet: true

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: false # Prevent commits on dirty repo

attribute-commit-message-author: true # Prefix with 'aider:'

show-diffs: true # Show diffs before committing

```

Output Format

Provide the complete `.aider.conf.yml` file with:

Constraints

Examples

**Example 1**: User wants Claude Sonnet with dark mode

```yaml

sonnet: true

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: true

code-theme: monokai

```

**Example 2**: User wants GPT-4o with testing enabled

```yaml

4o: true

dark-mode: true

test-cmd: "npm test"

auto-test: true

```

**Example 3**: User wants read-only files included

```yaml

sonnet: true

read:

- docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

- README.md

```