Custom Aider Configuration

Production-ready Aider configuration file that sets up an optimized AI coding assistant workflow using OpenRouter, prompt caching, and custom conventions.

Configuration Overview

This skill provides a comprehensive `.aider.conf.yml` configuration that:

Setup Instructions

1. **Create configuration directory structure**

```bash

mkdir -p aider_configs

```

2. **Create the main config file** `.aider.conf.yml` in your project root or home directory:

```yaml

# Model configuration

model: openrouter/nousresearch/hermes-3-llama-3.1-405b:free

# Cache settings for performance

cache-prompts: true

cache-keepalive-pings: 2

# Custom settings files

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

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

env-file: aider_configs/.env

# Read-only conventions file

read: [aider_configs/CONVENTIONS.md]

# Git settings

git: true

gitignore: true

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: true

attribute-author: true

attribute-committer: true

# Auto-linting

auto-lint: true

# Encoding

encoding: utf-8

```

3. **Create environment file** `aider_configs/.env`:

```bash

# Add your OpenRouter API key

OPENROUTER_API_KEY=your_key_here

# Optional: other API keys

# ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key_here

# OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key_here

```

4. **Create custom conventions file** `aider_configs/CONVENTIONS.md`:

```markdown

# Project Coding Conventions

## Code Style

- Use descriptive variable names

- Add comments for complex logic

- Follow language-specific style guides

## Git Commit Messages

- Use imperative mood ("Add feature" not "Added feature")

- Keep first line under 50 characters

- Add detailed description if needed

## Testing

- Write tests for new features

- Ensure all tests pass before committing

```

5. **Create model settings file** `aider_configs/.aider.model.settings.yml` (optional):

```yaml

# Custom model configurations

# Add model-specific settings here if needed

```

6. **Create model metadata file** `aider_configs/.aider.model.metadata.json` (optional):

```json

{

"models": {}

}

```

7. **Launch Aider**:

```bash

aider

```

Key Features

Prompt Caching

Git Integration

Repo Mapping

Conventions

Customization Options

Change Model

```yaml

Use Claude Sonnet

model: anthropic/claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620

Use GPT-4

model: openai/gpt-4-turbo

Use DeepSeek

model: deepseek/deepseek-coder

```

Add Linting

```yaml

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

auto-lint: true

```

Add Testing

```yaml

test-cmd: pytest

auto-test: true

```

Adjust Repo Map Size

```yaml

Increase for larger context

map-tokens: 2048

Disable repo map

map-tokens: 0

```

Usage Examples

Basic chat session

```bash

aider

```

Edit specific files

```bash

aider src/main.py tests/test_main.py

```

One-time message

```bash

aider --message "Add error handling to the login function"

```

Commit and exit

```bash

aider --commit

```

Run tests and fix

```bash

aider --test

```

File Structure

```

project-root/

├── .aider.conf.yml # Main config file

├── aider_configs/

│ ├── .env # API keys

│ ├── CONVENTIONS.md # Project conventions

│ ├── .aider.model.settings.yml

│ └── .aider.model.metadata.json

└── .aiderignore # Files to exclude (optional)

```

Important Notes

Troubleshooting

**Aider not finding config**: Ensure `.aider.conf.yml` is in git root, current directory, or home directory

**API key errors**: Check that `aider_configs/.env` exists and contains valid keys

**Cache not working**: Verify model supports prompt caching (most modern models do)

**Git attribution not working**: Ensure `git` is set to `true` and you're in a git repository