Comprehensive Aider Configuration

Complete configuration template for Aider AI pair programming tool with all available settings.

What This Does

Provides a comprehensive `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file template covering all aspects of Aider setup including model selection, API configuration, git integration, output formatting, and workflow customization.

Instructions

1. **Create the configuration file** in your home directory or git repository root:

```bash

touch .aider.conf.yml

```

2. **Add desired configuration options** from the template below. Uncomment and set values as needed:

```yaml

# Model Selection

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 # Specify main chat model

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini # Model for commit messages and summarization

editor-model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 # Model for editor tasks

# API Keys (can also use .env file)

# openai-api-key: your-key-here

# anthropic-api-key: your-key-here

# Git Settings

git: true

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: true

attribute-author: true

gitignore: true

# Output Settings

dark-mode: false # Set true for dark terminal

pretty: true

stream: true

show-diffs: false

# Repomap Settings

map-tokens: 1024 # Use 0 to disable repo map

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

# Linting and Testing

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check"

- "javascript: eslint"

auto-test: false

# test-cmd: pytest

# History Files

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

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

restore-chat-history: false

# Advanced Settings

cache-prompts: false

edit-format: diff # or: whole, udiff, diff-fenced

verify-ssl: true

suggest-shell-commands: true

detect-urls: true

```

3. **Configure model-specific settings** if using custom or unknown models:

```yaml

model-settings-file: .aider.model.settings.yml

model-metadata-file: .aider.model.metadata.json

```

4. **Set up environment variables** for API keys (recommended over config file):

```bash

# Create .env file in git root

echo "OPENAI_API_KEY=your-key" >> .env

echo "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-key" >> .env

```

5. **Configure lint commands** for your languages:

```yaml

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

auto-lint: true

```

6. **Customize output colors** for your terminal:

```yaml

user-input-color: "#00cc00"

assistant-output-color: "#0088ff"

tool-error-color: "#FF2222"

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

```

7. **Set up voice recording** (optional):

```yaml

voice-format: wav # or: webm, mp3 (requires ffmpeg)

voice-language: en # ISO 639-1 code

```

8. **Configure file watching** for AI coding comments:

```yaml

watch-files: true # Monitor files for special comments

```

9. **Test your configuration**:

```bash

aider --show-prompts # Verify settings loaded correctly

```

10. **Common configuration patterns**:

**Minimal setup:**

```yaml

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

auto-commits: true

dark-mode: true

```

**Performance-focused:**

```yaml

model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 3

map-tokens: 2048

stream: true

```

**Team setup:**

```yaml

model: gpt-4o

auto-commits: true

attribute-commit-message-author: true

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

show-diffs: true

```

Key Configuration Categories

Important Notes