Aider
Aider is a terminal-based pair programmer that edits files in your git repo, commits with meaningful messages, and maps the whole codebase for context — no IDE required.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Model defaults, /commands, and pricing change. Verify at aider.chat and aider --help on your installed version.
What it is good at
| Strength | Detail |
|---|---|
| Git-native | Stages changes, writes commits, respects .aiderignore |
| Repo map | Builds a structural map of the codebase for better file selection |
| Terminal / SSH | Works over SSH on remote servers and in headless CI-adjacent flows |
| Multi-model | Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, local models via API |
| Lightweight | No IDE extension; pip install and run |
| Explicit control | You add files to context; less surprise multi-file refactors |
Setup
pip install aider-install
aider-install
# Or: pip install aider-chat
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
# Or OPENAI_API_KEY, etc.
cd your-repo
aider
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
.aiderignore | Exclude paths from repo map (like .gitignore) |
.aider.conf.yml | Default model, editor, commit settings |
CONVENTIONS.md | Optional — Aider reads for project conventions |
Docs: Aider installation.
Modes / core workflow
| Command / action | Purpose |
|---|---|
/add file.ts | Add files to chat context |
/drop file.ts | Remove from context |
/commit | Commit staged AI changes with generated message |
/undo | Revert last AI edit |
/diff | Show pending changes |
/help | List slash commands for your version |
/model | Switch model mid-session |
Typical loop:
- Start
aiderin repo root /add src/utils/formatDate.ts src/utils/formatDate.test.ts- Describe the fix with acceptance criteria
- Review diff in terminal;
/commitor/undo - Run tests outside Aider; paste failures for another round
Pair with Project Rules via CONVENTIONS.md or AGENTS.md in repo root.
When to use it vs alternatives
| Choose Aider | Choose something else |
|---|---|
| SSH / remote server editing | Cursor or Cline — visual diffs in IDE |
| Git commit workflow built in | Claude Code — richer agent + hooks + skills |
| Minimal footprint; no IDE switch | Copilot — inline completions while typing |
| You want explicit file context control | Devin Desktop — multi-agent kanban |
| Scriptable terminal sessions | Codex CLI — OpenAI-native agent stack |
See Choosing an AI Coding Tool.
Model and cost tips
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
Use repo map (/map-refresh when structure changes) | Better file selection on large repos |
Keep /add list small | Token cost scales with context |
| Prefer capable models for refactors | Cheap models miss cross-file dependencies |
Commit often with /commit | Easier rollback than one giant session |
See Tokens and Context and Model Picker.
Limitations
- No native MCP in all versions — check current Aider docs for tool/MCP support
- Terminal UI — no visual side-by-side diff like IDE agents
- Less suited to greenfield UI work where visual feedback matters
- You manage API keys and rate limits directly