Aider
AI pair programming in your terminal
Overview
Aider is an AI pair programming tool designed to run in your terminal, enabling software engineers to collaborate with large language models on both new projects and existing codebases. It creates a complete map of your repository to provide context-aware edits across more than 100 programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, Rust, C++, Go, PHP, HTML, and CSS. Aider integrates into software development workflows through automated Git commits. Whenever code changes are made, Aider automatically creates sensible commit messages, allowing developers to inspect diffs and manage or undo AI changes using standard Git tools. It can be used directly in the terminal or inside preferred IDEs by adding comments to code files. The tool supports broad model compatibility, connecting to cloud LLMs like Claude 3.7 Sonnet, DeepSeek R1 & Chat V3, OpenAI o1, o3-mini, and GPT-4o, as well as local LLMs. Developers can also provide visual context using images and web pages, issue commands via voice-to-code capabilities, and automatically run linters and test suites to catch and fix code issues.
Best for: Developers who want an AI pair programmer directly in their terminal that integrates with Git, maps entire codebases, and works with local or cloud LLMs.
Pros and cons
What works well
- Automatically commits code edits to Git with sensible commit messages.
- Maps entire repository context across 100+ programming languages.
- Works flexible with top cloud LLMs, local LLMs, images, and voice input.
Where it falls short
- Requires developers to supply their own LLM API keys or local model configuration.
- Primarily text and terminal-based, which may require familiarity with command-line workflows.
Pricing
User reviews
Frequently asked questions
What is Aider?
Aider is an AI pair programming tool that runs in your terminal, helping you start new projects or build on existing codebases using LLMs.
Which LLMs work with Aider?
Aider works best with Claude 3.7 Sonnet, DeepSeek R1 & Chat V3, OpenAI o1, o3-mini, and GPT-4o, but can connect to almost any LLM, including local models.
How does Aider handle version control?
Aider automatically commits changes to Git with clear commit messages, enabling you to manage, review, or undo AI changes using standard Git tools.
Does Aider support automatic testing and linting?
Yes, Aider can run your linters and test suites automatically after editing code and fix any issues detected.
Can I use Aider with visual assets or reference documentation?
Yes, you can add images and web pages to your chat to provide screenshots, visual reference material, or documentation.
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