Aider
AI pair programming in your terminal for code generation and editing.
About Aider
Aider is an AI pair programming tool that operates in your terminal, allowing developers to collaborate with large language models to build new projects or modify existing codebases. It integrates seamlessly with git, automatically committing changes with sensible messages, and works with over 100 programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Rust, Ruby, Go, C++, and PHP. The tool makes a map of your entire codebase to provide context in larger projects, supporting popular LLMs like Claude 3.7 Sonnet, DeepSeek R1, and OpenAI's o1 and o3-mini models, while also connecting to local models. One limitation is that while Aider works best with API-based LLMs, it can operate through a web chat interface, though this requires manual copy/pasting of code.
At a glance
- Platforms
- Web, Terminal/CLI, IDE Integration
- API
- Available
- Last verified
- June 2026
Who It's For
- •Software developers
- •Full-stack engineers
- •Teams building or maintaining codebases
- •Developers seeking AI-assisted pair programming
How It Works
- 1Aider creates a comprehensive map of your entire codebase to understand project structure
- 2Integrates with your local git repository to track changes
- 3Connects to LLM APIs (Claude, DeepSeek, OpenAI) or local models for code generation
- 4Automatically runs linting and testing on generated code
- 5Commits changes with auto-generated commit messages
- 6Supports voice input for requesting features and changes
- 7Accepts images and web pages for visual context
How to Use Aider
- 1Install via pip: python -m pip install aider-chat
- 2Navigate to your project directory
- 3Launch aider with your chosen model (e.g., aider --model sonnet --api-key anthropic=<key>)
- 4Chat with aider in the terminal to request code changes
- 5Aider automatically commits changes to git
- 6Use familiar git tools to review, diff, or undo changes
- 7Optionally use IDE integration or web chat interface for alternative workflows
Key Features
- •Support for 100+ programming languages
- •Codebase mapping for context awareness
- •Git integration with automatic commits
- •Multi-LLM support (cloud and local models)
- •Automatic linting and testing
- •Voice-to-code functionality
- •IDE integration
- •Image and web page context support
- •Web chat interface for browser-based use
Use Cases
- •Starting new projects with AI-assisted scaffolding
- •Building features on existing codebases while maintaining code quality
- •Writing test cases and bug fixes with voice commands
- •Refactoring code with automatic linting feedback
- •Educational coding with real-time AI assistance
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- •Works with multiple LLMs including open-source and local models, providing flexibility
- •Automatic git integration enables easy review, diffing, and reversal of AI changes
- •Effective codebase mapping allows precise changes in large projects without losing context
- •Cross-platform language support covers most popular programming languages
Disadvantages
- •Web chat interface requires manual copy/pasting of code, less seamless than terminal workflow
- •Effectiveness depends on the quality and cost of chosen LLM API
- •Requires API keys for cloud-based LLMs, adding dependency on external services
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aider?
Aider is an AI pair programming tool that operates in your terminal, allowing developers to collaborate with large language models to build new projects or modify existing codebases. It integrates seamlessly with git, automatically committing changes with sensible messages, and works with over 100 programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Rust, Ruby, Go, C++, and PHP.
How much does Aider cost?
Aider is free to use.
Is Aider free?
Yes, Aider offers a free plan you can start with.
What are the best Aider alternatives?
Popular Aider alternatives include Codeamigo, CodeMate AI, BlackBox AI.
What is Aider used for?
Aider is commonly used for Starting new projects with AI-assisted scaffolding, Building features on existing codebases while maintaining code quality, Writing test cases and bug fixes with voice commands.
Does Aider have an API?
Yes, Aider offers an API for developers.
What platforms does Aider support?
Aider is available on Web, Terminal/CLI, IDE Integration.
Information Accuracy
Please note: While we regularly update all tool information including descriptions, features, pricing, and other details, this information may change over time as tools evolve and update their offerings. For the most current and accurate information, we recommend visiting the official website directly. Our goal is to provide you with comprehensive and up-to-date information to help you make informed decisions.