Aider
Git-integrated AI coding assistant for the terminal
Aider is an open-source AI coding assistant that works directly in your terminal. Pair program with LLMs to create new projects or edit existing code. Git-integrated — it automatically commits changes with sensible messages. Best for developers who want a lightweight, open-source alternative to browser-based AI coding tools.
Overview
Aider is an open-source command-line AI coding assistant that works with a wide range of LLM providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, and local models. It specializes in making changes to existing codebases through natural language instructions. Aider is git-aware, automatically committing changes with meaningful messages. For PMs who want flexibility in choosing AI models and prefer an open-source solution, Aider is the most configurable option available.
Key Features
- Open-source and free to use
- Support for 20+ LLM providers
- Git-aware with automatic commits
- Works with any programming language
- Repository mapping for codebase understanding
- Voice coding mode
- Highly configurable and scriptable
Prompt Tips for Aider
- Add relevant files to the chat context with /add before making requests
- Use /architect mode for planning before implementation
- Be specific about which files should be modified
- Use /ask to discuss approaches before committing to changes
- Reference function names and class names for precision
Getting Started
- 1Install Aider: pip install aider-chat
- 2Navigate to your project directory
- 3Run aider with your preferred model: aider --model claude-3-opus
- 4Add relevant files to the context
- 5Describe the changes you want to make