GitHub Copilot with Aider

Configure Aider to use GitHub Copilot's API endpoint instead of OpenAI directly, leveraging your GitHub Copilot subscription for AI-assisted coding.

What This Does

This skill sets up Aider to route requests through GitHub Copilot's API, using GPT-4.1 as the primary model for complex coding tasks and GPT-4o-mini for simpler operations like commit messages.

Instructions

When the user asks to configure Aider for GitHub Copilot or mentions wanting to use their GitHub Copilot subscription with Aider:

1. **Check for existing Aider configuration**

- Look for `.aider.conf.yml` in the project root or user's home directory

- Read the file if it exists to preserve any custom settings

2. **Create or update the configuration file**

- File location: `.aider.conf.yml` in the project root (or `~/.aider.conf.yml` for global config)

- Set the following configuration:

```yaml

openai-api-base: https://api.githubcopilot.com

model: openai/gpt-4.1

weak-model: openai/gpt-4o-mini

show-model-warnings: false

```

3. **Explain the configuration**

- `openai-api-base`: Routes requests to GitHub Copilot's API endpoint

- `model`: Primary model for complex coding tasks (GPT-4.1)

- `weak-model`: Faster model for simple tasks like commit messages

- `show-model-warnings`: Suppresses model compatibility warnings

4. **Verify API key setup**

- Inform the user that `OPENAI_API_KEY` environment variable must contain their GitHub Copilot token

- The token can be obtained from GitHub Copilot settings

- Suggest adding it to their shell profile (`.zshrc`, `.bashrc`, etc.)

5. **Test the configuration** (optional)

- Run `aider --model openai/gpt-4.1` to verify the setup works

- Confirm successful connection to GitHub Copilot API

Example Usage

**User request:**

"Set up Aider to use my GitHub Copilot subscription"

**Expected actions:**

1. Create `.aider.conf.yml` with GitHub Copilot configuration

2. Explain that `OPENAI_API_KEY` must be set to GitHub Copilot token

3. Provide instructions for obtaining the token if needed

Important Notes