Universal Aider Configuration

A comprehensive Aider configuration optimized for solo developers, featuring low token usage, fast feedback loops, safe Git history management, and multi-model flexibility. Works with any codebase.

What This Configuration Does

This `.aider.conf.yaml` file configures Aider (AI pair programming tool) with:

Instructions

1. Create the Configuration File

Create a file named `.aider.conf.yaml` in your project root (or `~/.aider.conf.yaml` for global config):

```yaml

Universal Aider configuration – solo-dev optimized

Goals: low token usage, fast feedback, safe Git history, works for any codebase.

── Models ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

model: openrouter/deepseek/deepseek-r1 # primary model for code generation

editor-model: anthropic/claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 # model used for actual edit operations

weak-model: openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.5-haiku-20241022 # summariser / repo-map helper / commits / chat history

── Aliases for quick model switching via /editor-model ────────────────────

alias:

- "fast:openrouter/openai/gpt-4o" # low-latency, high-quality edits

- "smart:openrouter/openai/o1" # deep reasoning for complex tasks

- "hacker:openrouter/anthropic/claude-3.5-haiku-20241022" # cost-effective wide-context model

- "edit:o4-mini"

── File Formats ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

#edit-format: diff # Specify what edit format the main LLM should use(API model replies)

#editor-edit-format: editor-diff # Specify the edit format for the editor model(copy/paste or architect mode[editor-diff and editor-whole])

── Linting ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

lint-cmd:

python: flake8 # Python linter

yaml: yamllint # CloudFormation templates, SAM templates

shell: shellcheck # Bash/POSIX shell scripts

json: jq . > /dev/null # Check if JSON is valid

markdown: markdownlint # Optional: if you use README.md or docs

── Prompt & history budget ───────────────────────────────────────────────

cache-prompts: true # skip resending static context

cache-keepalive-pings: 2 # keep cache warm (pingsX5min) = uptime to keep cache alive

max-chat-history-tokens: 4096 # summarise long sessions

── Repo map (context snapshot) ───────────────────────────────────────────

map-tokens: 1024 # small but useful repo overview

map-refresh: auto # refresh when tracked files change

── Git workflow helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────

auto-commits: true # commit after each successful change

dirty-commits: true # commit even with unstaged changes

── Global system prompt ─────────────────────────────────────────────────

system-message: >-

You are Aider, a pair-programming AI: think step-by-step, ask questions, propose designs,

output unified diffs per style guides, include tests and CLI commands.

Never expose secrets, and maximize correctness and maintainability.

── Specify a custom prompt for generating commit messages ───────────────

commit-prompt: 'Aider-AI🧙: {{summary}} ({{files}})'

read: [CONVENTIONS.md] # optional project style guide

── Output / UX tweaks ───────────────────────────────────────────────────

pretty: true # colorized terminal output

stream: false # stream tokens for snappy feedback

suggest-shell-commands: true # propose handy CLI snippets

dark-mode: false

watch-files: true # watch all files and look for any AI coding instructions text

── Cooler Color Palette ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────

user-input-color: "#9bd255" # your typed commands appear in green

assistant-output-color: "#37e1e6" # AI responses in cyan for clarity

tool-output-color: "#ff3ee2" # normal tool messages in magenta

tool-error-color: "#f52828" # errors in bright red to stand out

tool-warning-color: "#f58528" # warnings in bright orange

completion-menu-color: "white" # selection text in white for contrast

completion-menu-bg-color: "#02009e" # background in blue to keep the cool tone

code-theme: "one-dark" # popular dark theme with purples & blues for code

── Privacy ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

analytics-disable: true

```

2. Install Required Linters

**Linux:**

```bash

pip install flake8

npm install -g markdownlint-cli

sudo apt install yamllint shellcheck jq

```

**Windows (via Chocolatey):**

```bash

pip install flake8

pip install yamllint

npm install -g markdownlint-cli

choco install shellcheck jq

```

3. Optional: Install Playwright for Web Scraping

```bash

pip install pytest-playwright

playwright install --with-deps chromium

```

4. Start Aider

```bash

aider

```

5. Key Commands

**In-Session Slash Commands:**

**CLI Flags (on launch):**

6. Understanding Edit Formats

| Mode | Description | Best Use Case | Token Cost |

|------|-------------|---------------|------------|

| `diff` | Classic minimal diffs | Small edits, bug fixes | 🔹 Lowest |

| `udiff` | Unified diffs with context | Most day-to-day changes | 🔸 Low |

| `diff-fence` | Unified diffs in markdown fences | Better readability | 🔸 Low-Medium |

| `whole` | Outputs entire files | Full rewrites, file generation | 🔺 Higher |

| `architect` | Full-project planning and design | Large features, refactoring | 🔺🔺 Highest |

7. Token Budget Guidelines

A token is roughly 4 characters or 1 word. Adjust `map-tokens` based on project size:

| Project Size | Recommended `map-tokens` |

|--------------|--------------------------|

| Tiny (1–3 files) | 512–1024 |

| Small (5–10 files) | 2048–4096 |

| Medium (10–25 files) | 4096–8192 |

| Large (25+ files) | 8192–16384+ |

8. Optional: Enable Architect Mode

Uncomment these lines in your config for automatic architect mode:

```yaml

architect: true # off by default; toggle via /architect cmd

auto-accept-architect: false # require review when architect mode is used

```

Example Workflow

1. Start Aider in your project: `aider`

2. Add files to context: `/add main.py utils.py`

3. Ask Aider to make changes: "Refactor the error handling in main.py"

4. Aider auto-commits with message: `Aider-AI🧙: Refactor error handling (main.py)`

5. Review changes: `/diff main.py`

6. Undo if needed: `/undo`

Notes

Source

From: trinib/Awesome-Mint-Setup (Awesome setup for Linux Mint Cinnamon/Ubuntu)