Aider ProxySQL Configuration

Configure Aider AI coding assistant with production-grade settings inspired by the ProxySQL project (high-performance MySQL proxy). This skill covers model selection, git integration, code editing formats, repository mapping, and automated workflows.

What This Skill Does

Sets up comprehensive Aider configuration covering:

Instructions

1. Create Base Configuration File

Create `.aider.conf.yml` in your project root or home directory with the essential settings:

```yaml

Main model selection (choose one)

model: anthropic/claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219 # Latest Sonnet

model: gpt-4o # OpenAI alternative

model: deepseek/deepseek-chat # Cost-effective option

Editor model for quick tasks

editor-model: claude-3-5-haiku-20241022

Repository map settings (crucial for large codebases)

map-tokens: 2048 # Increase for larger projects

map-refresh: auto # Options: auto, always, files, manual

Git integration

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: true

attribute-author: true

attribute-committer: true

Code editing format (choose based on model)

edit-format: diff # Most precise

edit-format: whole # For smaller files

architect: true # For complex refactoring

Terminal UI

dark-mode: true # or light-mode: true

stream: true

pretty: true

Load agent instructions on startup

load: ./AGENT.md

```

2. Configure API Keys

**Option A: Environment variables (recommended)**

Create `.env` in your git root:

```bash

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...

DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=...

```

**Option B: YAML config (OpenAI/Anthropic only)**

Add to `.aider.conf.yml`:

```yaml

set-env:

- ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

- OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...

```

3. Set Up Git Attribution

Configure how Aider attributes its changes:

```yaml

Option 1: Separate git author (recommended)

attribute-author: true

attribute-committer: true

Option 2: Co-authored-by trailer (GitHub-friendly)

attribute-co-authored-by: true

Option 3: Prefix commit messages

attribute-commit-message-author: true # "aider: Fix bug in parser"

```

4. Configure Automated Workflows

**Linting:**

```yaml

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

- "go: golangci-lint run"

```

**Testing:**

```yaml

auto-test: true

test-cmd: "pytest tests/" # or "npm test", "go test ./..."

```

5. Optimize for Large Codebases

For projects like ProxySQL with many files:

```yaml

Increase context window for repo map

map-tokens: 4096

map-multiplier-no-files: 3

Limit chat history to avoid token overflow

max-chat-history-tokens: 8192

Enable prompt caching (Anthropic models)

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 2 # Keep cache warm for 10 minutes

```

6. Customize Terminal UI Colors

```yaml

dark-mode: true

user-input-color: "#00cc00"

assistant-output-color: "#0088ff"

tool-error-color: "#FF2222"

tool-warning-color: "#FFA500"

code-theme: monokai # or solarized-dark, default

```

7. Set Up History Files

```yaml

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

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

restore-chat-history: true # Resume previous sessions

llm-history-file: .aider.llm.history # Debug LLM interactions

```

8. Configure Subtree Mode (Monorepos)

For working on specific subdirectories:

```yaml

subtree-only: true

```

Then launch Aider from the subdirectory you want to focus on.

9. Add Files to Ignore

Create `.aiderignore` in your git root:

```

Generated files

*.pyc

__pycache__/

node_modules/

dist/

build/

Sensitive files

.env

secrets.yml

*.key

```

10. Advanced: Custom Model Aliases

For switching between models easily:

```yaml

alias:

- "fast: claude-3-5-haiku-20241022"

- "smart: anthropic/claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219"

- "cheap: deepseek/deepseek-chat"

```

Then use: `aider --model fast`

Usage Examples

**Basic usage with configuration:**

```bash

Start Aider with config

aider

Override model

aider --model gpt-4o

One-shot edit

aider --message "Add type hints to user.py" --yes-always

Commit mode

aider --commit

```

**Workflow patterns:**

```bash

Lint and fix all dirty files

aider --lint

Run tests, auto-fix failures

aider --test

Architect mode for refactoring

aider --architect src/core/parser.py

```

**Voice coding:**

```bash

aider --voice-format webm --voice-language en

```

Important Notes

Constraints

Reference

Based on ProxySQL's `.aider.conf.yml` (GPL-licensed MySQL proxy). Configuration documentation: https://aider.chat/docs/config/options.html