Aider Power User Config

A battle-tested Aider configuration from a production dotfiles repository, optimized for cost-effective AI-assisted development with a multi-model workflow.

What This Does

Sets up Aider with a carefully chosen model stack that balances cost and capability:

Enables power-user features like architect mode, file watching, and LLM history tracking while keeping manual control over commits.

Configuration Breakdown

```yaml

Primary model - Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview

Fast, cost-effective, good for most tasks

model: gemini/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-04-17

Editor model - Claude 3.5 Sonnet via OpenRouter

Premium quality for code editing/refactoring

editor-model: openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet

Alternative ultra-cheap model (commented out)

model: openrouter/deepseek/deepseek-r1

UI preferences

dark-mode: true

show-model-warnings: false

Workflow settings

auto-commits: false # Manual commit control

architect: true # Enable architect mode for complex tasks

yes-always: true # Skip confirmation prompts

watch-files: true # Auto-reload changed files

Tracking & privacy

llm-history-file: .aider.llm.history

analytics-disable: true

```

How to Use

1. **Save configuration**:

```bash

Save to project root

cat > .aider.conf.yml <<EOF

model: gemini/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-04-17

editor-model: openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet

dark-mode: true

auto-commits: false

show-model-warnings: false

architect: true

yes-always: true

llm-history-file: .aider.llm.history

analytics-disable: true

watch-files: true

EOF

```

2. **Set up API keys** (add to `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc`):

```bash

export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-key-here"

export OPENROUTER_API_KEY="your-key-here"

```

3. **Launch Aider**:

```bash

Will automatically use .aider.conf.yml in current directory

aider

Or specify files to work on

aider src/main.py tests/test_main.py

```

Why These Settings?

**Model choice reasoning**:

**Workflow optimizations**:

**Privacy & tracking**:

Cost Optimization Tips

1. **Use Gemini for iteration**: Let the cheap model handle back-and-forth, exploratory work

2. **Use Claude for final polish**: Switch to editor model for critical refactoring

3. **Try DeepSeek for bulk work**: Uncomment the alternative model line for high-volume tasks

4. **Monitor usage**: Check `.aider.llm.history` to see token consumption patterns

Common Workflows

**Standard development**:

```bash

aider src/

Gemini handles most work cheaply

```

**Critical refactoring**:

```bash

aider --model openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet src/core.py

Override to use Claude for important changes

```

**Ultra-cheap mode**:

```bash

aider --model openrouter/deepseek/deepseek-r1 src/

DeepSeek for massive codebases or budget constraints

```

Notes

Troubleshooting

**Models not found**:

```bash

List available models

aider --models

Test specific model

aider --model gemini/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-04-17 --test

```

**API key issues**:

```bash

Verify keys are set

echo $GEMINI_API_KEY

echo $OPENROUTER_API_KEY

Test connection

aider --test-cmd "echo hello"

```

**File watching conflicts**: