Aider Multi-Model Configuration

This skill configures Aider with a comprehensive multi-model setup using OpenRouter, featuring model aliases across major AI provider families (OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Mistral, DeepSeek).

Configuration Details

Sets up Aider with:

Instructions

When the user requests this configuration:

1. **Create `.aider.conf.yml` in the project root** with the following structure:

```yaml

editor: code -w

gitignore: false

analytics: false

light-mode: true

disable-playwright: true

Load API keys from ~/.aider.env

env-file: ~/.aider.env

model: openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-pro-preview

weak-model: openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20

editor-model: openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20

alias:

# OpenAI family

- 4o:openrouter/openai/gpt-4o

- 4o-mini:openrouter/openai/gpt-4o-mini

- 4.1:openrouter/openai/gpt-4.1

- 4.1-mini:openrouter/openai/gpt-4.1-mini

- 4.1-nano:openrouter/openai/gpt-4.1-nano

- o4-mini:openrouter/openai/o4-mini

- o3-mini:openrouter/openai/o3-mini

# Gemini family

- gemini-2.5-pro:openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-pro-preview

- gemini-2.5-flash-thinking:openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20:thinking

- gemini-2.5-flash:openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20

- gemini-2.5-lite:openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite-preview-06-17

- gemini-2.0-flash:openrouter/google/gemini-2.0-flash-001

- gemini-2.0-lite:openrouter/google/gemini-2.0-flash-lite-001

# Anthropic family

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

- opus-3:openrouter/anthropic/claude-opus-3

- sonnet-4:openrouter/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4

- sonnet-3.7:openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.7-sonnet

- haiku-3.5:openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.5-haiku

- haiku-3:openrouter/anthropic/claude-3-haiku

# Mistral family

- devstral-small:openrouter/mistralai/devstral-small

# DeepSeek family

- deepseek-v3:openrouter/deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324

- deepseek-r1:openrouter/deepseek/deepseek-r1-0528

```

2. **Create `~/.aider.env` file** for API keys if it doesn't exist:

```bash

OpenRouter API key (required for all aliased models)

OPENROUTER_API_KEY=your_openrouter_key_here

```

3. **Explain the configuration** to the user:

- The config uses OpenRouter as a unified gateway to multiple AI providers

- Short aliases enable quick model switching: `aider --model 4o` or `aider --model opus-4`

- Light mode is enabled by default (remove `light-mode: true` for dark mode)

- VS Code is set as the editor (change `code -w` to your preferred editor)

- Analytics and Playwright are disabled for privacy/performance

4. **Provide usage examples**:

```bash

Use default (Gemini 2.5 Pro)

aider

Switch to GPT-4.1

aider --model 4.1

Switch to Claude Opus 4

aider --model opus-4

Switch to DeepSeek R1

aider --model deepseek-r1

Override weak model

aider --weak-model 4o-mini

```

Requirements

Notes