Optimized Aider Configuration

A production-ready Aider configuration optimized for performance and visual clarity, featuring Gemini 2.5 Pro as the main model, diff-fenced editing format, prompt caching, and Catppuccin color scheme.

What This Configuration Does

This Aider configuration file (`.aider.conf.yml`) sets up:

**Gemini 2.5 Pro** as the main coding model with diff-fenced edit format

**Prompt caching** enabled for faster responses and reduced API costs

**Light mode** UI with custom Catppuccin-inspired colors

**Diff display** on commits for better change visibility

**Manual commits** (auto-commits disabled) for more control

**Terminal notifications** when responses are ready

Instructions

1. Create the Configuration File

Place this content in `.aider.conf.yml` in one of these locations:

Your git repository root (project-specific)

Your home directory `~/.aider.conf.yml` (global default)

Current working directory (local override)

```yaml

cache-prompts: true

light-mode: true

show-diffs: true

auto-commits: false

notifications: true

architect: false

model: gemini/gemini-2.5-pro-preview-06-05

edit-format: diff-fenced

Catppuccin-inspired colors for light mode

user-input-color: "#cdd6f4"

completion-menu-color: "#cdd6f4"

completion-menu-bg-color: "#1e1e2e"

```

2. Set Up API Keys

Create a `.env` file in your git repository root with your API keys:

```bash

GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_api_key_here

```

Get your Gemini API key from [Google AI Studio](https://makersuite.google.com/app/apikey).

3. Launch Aider

Start aider in your project directory:

```bash

aider

```

The configuration will be automatically loaded, and you'll see:

Light mode terminal colors

Catppuccin-inspired UI

Diff-fenced editing format active

Prompt caching enabled

4. Verify Configuration

Check your active settings:

```bash

aider --show-prompts

```

Or list your model:

```bash

aider --list-models gemini

```

Key Configuration Options

Model Settings

**Main model**: `gemini/gemini-2.5-pro-preview-06-05` - Fast, capable model for coding

**Edit format**: `diff-fenced` - Clear, readable diffs in markdown code blocks

**Architect mode**: Disabled - Use standard editing mode

Performance Features

**Prompt caching**: Reduces latency and API costs by reusing prompt prefixes

**Show diffs**: Preview all changes before committing

**Manual commits**: Review changes before they're committed to git

UI Customization

**Light mode**: Optimized for light terminal backgrounds

**User input color**: `#cdd6f4` (Catppuccin Latte text)

**Completion menu**: `#cdd6f4` text on `#1e1e2e` background

Alternative Models (Commented)

Uncomment these lines to try different models:

```yaml

weak-model: gemini/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20 # Faster, cheaper model for summaries

editor-model: openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.7-sonnet # Alternative editor model

```

Usage Examples

Start with specific files

```bash

aider src/main.py tests/test_main.py

```

Add read-only context

```bash

aider --read docs/api.md src/api.py

```

One-shot mode

```bash

aider --message "Add type hints to all functions" src/utils.py

```

Customization Options

Switch to Dark Mode

Change `light-mode: true` to:

```yaml

dark-mode: true

```

Enable Auto-Commits

For faster iteration, enable automatic commits:

```yaml

auto-commits: true

```

Add Linting

Configure automatic linting after changes:

```yaml

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "javascript: eslint --fix"

```

Configure Testing

Run tests automatically after changes:

```yaml

auto-test: true

test-cmd: pytest

```

Important Notes

The config file only stores OpenAI and Anthropic API keys directly; use `.env` for other providers like Gemini

Aider will search for config files in this order: current directory → git root → home directory

Command-line arguments override config file settings

The `architect` mode is disabled here but can be enabled for more complex refactoring tasks

Troubleshooting

**Colors not working?**

Ensure your terminal supports 24-bit color

Try removing custom color settings to use terminal defaults

**API key not found?**

Check `.env` file is in git root

Verify environment variable name matches provider (e.g., `GEMINI_API_KEY`)

**Prompt caching not working?**

Confirm your API provider supports prompt caching

Check API dashboard for cache hit rates

References

[Aider Documentation](https://aider.chat/docs/config.html)

[Catppuccin Color Palette](https://github.com/catppuccin/catppuccin)

[Gemini API Pricing](https://ai.google.dev/pricing)

Optimized Aider Configuration

Safety Concern

Optimized Aider Configuration

What This Configuration Does

Instructions

1. Create the Configuration File

Catppuccin-inspired colors for light mode

2. Set Up API Keys

3. Launch Aider

4. Verify Configuration

Key Configuration Options

Model Settings

Performance Features

UI Customization

Alternative Models (Commented)

weak-model: gemini/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20 # Faster, cheaper model for summaries

editor-model: openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.7-sonnet # Alternative editor model

Usage Examples

Start with specific files

Add read-only context

One-shot mode

Customization Options

Switch to Dark Mode

Enable Auto-Commits

Add Linting

Configure Testing

Important Notes

Troubleshooting

References

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