Aider Enhanced Configuration

Production-grade configuration for Aider AI coding assistant with OpenRouter model routing, Gemini 2.5 integration, and optimized workflow aliases.

What This Does

Configures Aider with:

Setup Instructions

Prerequisites

1. **Install Aider**:

```bash

pip install aider-chat

```

2. **Get OpenRouter API Key**:

- Sign up at https://openrouter.ai

- Generate API key from dashboard

- Set environment variable:

```bash

export OPENROUTER_API_KEY='your-key-here'

```

Configuration

1. **Create Aider config directory**:

```bash

mkdir -p ~/.aider

```

2. **Save configuration** to `~/.aider/aider.conf.yml`:

```yaml

chat-language: english

voice-language: english

dark-mode: true

code-theme: monokai

attribute-author: false

attribute-committer: false

architect: true

check-update: true

alias:

- "fast:openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash"

- "smart:openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-pro"

model: smart

```

Usage

Basic Commands

**Start with smart model** (default):

```bash

aider

```

**Use fast model** for quick iterations:

```bash

aider --model fast

```

**Explicit model override**:

```bash

aider --model smart

```

Model Selection Guide

| Alias | Model | Use When |

|-------|-------|----------|

| `fast` | Gemini 2.5 Flash | Quick refactors, simple changes, rapid iterations |

| `smart` | Gemini 2.5 Pro | Complex features, architecture decisions, critical code |

Architect Mode Features

With `architect: true` enabled:

Example Workflows

**Feature development** (smart):

```bash

aider --model smart

In Aider:

/add src/api/

Implement user authentication with JWT

```

**Quick fixes** (fast):

```bash

aider --model fast

In Aider:

/add src/utils/helper.js

Fix the date formatting bug in formatDate()

```

**Architecture review**:

```bash

aider --model smart

In Aider:

/add src/

Review the current architecture and suggest improvements for scalability

```

Configuration Options Explained

| Setting | Value | Purpose |

|---------|-------|---------|

| `dark-mode` | `true` | Comfortable for terminal use |

| `code-theme` | `monokai` | Syntax highlighting theme |

| `attribute-author` | `false` | Clean git history (no "Co-Authored-By") |

| `architect` | `true` | Enhanced planning mode |

| `check-update` | `true` | Stay current with latest features |

| `model` | `smart` | Default to quality over speed |

Cost Optimization

**Flash model** (~$0.10 per 1M tokens):

**Pro model** (~$1.00 per 1M tokens):

Troubleshooting

**Config not loading**:

```bash

Verify config location

aider --show-config-files

Check syntax

cat ~/.aider/aider.conf.yml

```

**Model alias not found**:

```bash

List available models

aider --models

Test alias directly

aider --model openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash

```

**OpenRouter authentication error**:

```bash

Verify API key is set

echo $OPENROUTER_API_KEY

Test with explicit key

aider --openrouter-api-key your-key-here

```

Advanced Customization

**Add more aliases**:

```yaml

alias:

- "fast:openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash"

- "smart:openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-pro"

- "cheap:openrouter/meta-llama/llama-3.1-8b-instruct"

- "ultra:openrouter/anthropic/claude-opus-4"

```

**Per-project overrides** (`.aider.conf.yml` in project root):

```yaml

model: fast

auto-commits: false

```

Best Practices

1. **Start with fast**, escalate to smart when needed

2. **Use architect mode** for greenfield projects

3. **Keep config in dotfiles** for reproducibility

4. **Review generated code** before committing

5. **Set git conventions** in project README for Aider context

Integration with Workflows

**Pre-commit hook**:

```bash

#!/bin/bash

.git/hooks/pre-commit

aider --model fast --yes-always /lint

```

**CI integration** (review bot):

```bash

aider --model smart --read-only --message "Review this PR for issues"

```