Qwen3-Coder Aider Configuration

This skill provides a comprehensive configuration template for Aider when working with Qwen3-Coder or other language models. It covers all configuration options for AI-powered pair programming sessions.

What This Skill Does

Creates a complete `.aider.conf.yml` configuration file with all available Aider options, including:

Instructions

When a user requests Aider configuration, follow these steps:

1. **Determine Configuration Scope**

- Ask which aspects the user wants to configure (or use defaults for comprehensive setup)

- Common configurations: model selection, git behavior, output formatting, auto-linting/testing

2. **Create Configuration File**

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

- Include relevant sections based on user needs

- Comment out options that aren't immediately needed but may be useful

3. **Key Configuration Areas**

**Model Settings:**

- Specify primary model via `model:` or use shortcuts (`--opus`, `--sonnet`, `--4o`)

- Configure API keys (can also use `.env` file)

- Set `weak-model:` for commit messages and summaries

- Adjust `map-tokens:` for repo context (default: 1024)

- Enable `cache-prompts:` for faster responses with compatible models

**Git Integration:**

- `auto-commits: true` - Automatically commit LLM changes

- `dirty-commits: true` - Allow commits when repo has uncommitted changes

- `attribute-author: true` - Attribute Aider in git author name

- `gitignore: true` - Auto-add `.aider*` files to `.gitignore`

- `commit-prompt:` - Custom prompt for commit message generation

**Auto-Fix Features:**

- `auto-lint: true` - Automatically run linting after changes

- `lint-cmd:` - Specify language-specific lint commands (e.g., "python: flake8")

- `auto-test: false` - Automatically run tests after changes (enable if desired)

- `test-cmd:` - Command to run test suite

**Output & Display:**

- `dark-mode: false` / `light-mode: false` - Terminal theme

- `pretty: true` - Colorized output

- `stream: true` - Stream responses as they generate

- `show-diffs: false` - Show git diffs when committing

- `code-theme: default` - Markdown code syntax theme

**History Files:**

- `input-history-file: .aider.input.history` - Command history

- `chat-history-file: .aider.chat.history.md` - Conversation log

- `restore-chat-history: false` - Resume previous sessions

- `llm-history-file:` - Log raw LLM interactions (debugging)

4. **Common Configurations**

**Minimal Setup (Model + Auto-commit):**

```yaml

model: qwen/qwen3-coder

auto-commits: true

git: true

```

**Development Setup (Linting + Testing):**

```yaml

model: qwen/qwen3-coder

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check"

- "javascript: eslint"

test-cmd: pytest

auto-commits: true

```

**Custom Model with API Base:**

```yaml

model: qwen3-coder

openai-api-base: https://api.example.com/v1

openai-api-key: your-key-here

map-tokens: 2048

cache-prompts: true

```

5. **Additional Files**

**Create `.aiderignore` if needed:**

- Similar to `.gitignore` syntax

- Exclude files/directories from Aider's context

- Example: `node_modules/`, `*.log`, `dist/`

**Create `.env` for API keys:**

```

OPENAI_API_KEY=your-key

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-key

```

6. **Verify Configuration**

- Run `aider --help` to see all options

- Run `aider --list-models` to verify model availability

- Test configuration with `aider --show-prompts` (shows system prompts)

Important Notes

1. `--config` flag

2. `.aider.conf.yml` in current directory

3. `.aider.conf.yml` in git root

4. `.aider.conf.yml` in home directory

Examples

**Example 1: Basic Qwen3-Coder Setup**

```yaml

model: qwen/qwen3-coder

auto-commits: true

dark-mode: true

pretty: true

stream: true

```

**Example 2: Full Development Configuration**

```yaml

model: qwen/qwen3-coder

weak-model: gpt-4o-mini

map-tokens: 2048

auto-commits: true

dirty-commits: true

attribute-author: true

auto-lint: true

lint-cmd:

- "python: ruff check --fix"

- "typescript: eslint --fix"

test-cmd: npm test

dark-mode: true

show-diffs: true

restore-chat-history: true

```

**Example 3: Custom API Configuration**

```yaml

model: custom-model

openai-api-base: https://custom-api.example.com/v1

openai-api-key: sk-custom-key

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

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

cache-prompts: true

verify-ssl: true

```

Constraints