Aider
What is Aider?
Aider is a terminal-based AI coding assistant for developers that edits code in context using a repository map, git workflow, and live linting and testing. It supports cloud and local LLMs, accepts images and web pages as context, and works with 100+ code languages. Aider also integrates with Git and runs in your IDE.
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At a glance
- Aider is best for developers who want terminal-based AI help that edits code in context.
What does Aider do?
Aider handles code changes by pairing a terminal chat with your repository map, git workflow, and live checks. You point it at the files that matter, and it uses the repository map to understand surrounding context instead of forcing you to dump in everything. It can work with cloud and local LLMs, accept images and web pages for extra context, and keep edits grounded with linting and testing as it goes. At scale, Aider is used across 44K GitHub stars, 6.8M installs, and 15B tokens per week, with 88% singularity in its latest release. It supports 100+ code languages and can run against almost any LLM, including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, DeepSeek R1, Chat V3, OpenAI o1, o3-mini, and GPT-4o. Users can also share chat transcripts, work from an IDE, or script Aider for repeatable workflows.
Why use Aider?
- Its repository map gives the model compact codebase context, which helps on larger projects without flooding the chat with irrelevant files.
- Git integration keeps AI edits inside familiar commit, diff, and undo workflows instead of creating a separate review path.
- Support for cloud and local LLMs lets teams choose models based on cost, latency, or privacy constraints.
- Linting and testing run alongside edits, so Aider can catch and fix problems before changes land.
- It works across 100+ languages, making one workflow usable across mixed-language repositories.
Who is Aider for?
- Backend engineers who want AI help making targeted changes inside an existing codebase.
- Frontend developers who need code edits informed by screenshots, docs, and browser content.
- Monorepo maintainers who want repository-aware assistance without loading every file into chat.
- Teams using git-heavy workflows who want AI changes committed, diffed, and undone cleanly.
- Developers who prefer terminal or IDE workflows over a separate chat app.
What are Aider's key features?
Cloud and local LLMs
Connects to Claude 3.7 Sonnet, DeepSeek R1, Chat V3, OpenAI o1, o3-mini, and GPT-4o so you can choose hosted or local model workflows.
Maps your codebase
Builds a repository map and subtree-only context so edits stay focused on the right files, which helps reduce wasted tokens on large codebases.
100+ code languages
Works across 100+ code languages, letting teams use one terminal workflow for mixed-language repositories instead of switching tools per stack.
Git integration
Uses Git integration to track changes in your repo, making AI-assisted edits easier to review, commit, and roll back during development.
In your IDE
Runs alongside your IDE while keeping the terminal workflow, so you can edit code with AI without leaving your normal development environment.
Images & web pages
Accepts images and web pages as input, which helps when code changes depend on screenshots, docs, or other external references.
Linting & testing
Runs linting and testing during the edit loop, helping catch broken changes early before they reach a commit.
chat transcript sharing
Shares chat transcripts so teammates can review prompts, edits, and outcomes from the same Aider session.
What does Aider integrate with?
- Claude 3.7 Sonnet
- DeepSeek R1
- Chat V3
- OpenAI o1
- o3-mini
- GPT-4o
What are Aider's use cases?
Backend engineers targeted edits
Backend engineers who want AI help making targeted changes inside an existing codebase use Aider to update specific files from the terminal, using Maps your codebase to keep changes grounded in the right context. They can pair that with Git integration to review diffs and undo mistakes cleanly.
Frontend fixes from visuals
Frontend developers who need code edits informed by screenshots, docs, and browser content use Aider to turn visual feedback into working UI changes, using Images & web pages to reference what they see. In your IDE keeps the workflow close to where they already edit and test.
Monorepo work without overload
Monorepo maintainers who want repository-aware assistance without loading every file into chat use Aider to focus on the relevant subtree, using subtree-only and repository map to narrow context. That helps them make safer cross-package edits without drowning in unrelated files.
Git-safe AI coding
Teams using git-heavy workflows who want AI changes committed, diffed, and undone cleanly use Aider to keep every edit traceable, using Git integration and chat transcript sharing. They can validate changes with Linting & testing before merging, reducing review friction.
How does Aider work?
- Connect your first codebase in the terminal and let Maps your codebase build a repository-aware view, so Aider can target the right files instead of guessing across the whole project.
- Choose a model from Cloud and local LLMs, then start a chat in your IDE or terminal and describe the change you want in plain language.
- Attach screenshots, docs, or live pages with Images & web pages when the request depends on UI details, and let Aider translate that context into code edits.
- Review the proposed diff through Git integration, then run Linting & testing to catch regressions before you commit or undo anything.
- Keep iterating with subtree-only and aiderignore to limit scope, and share the chat transcript when teammates need the exact reasoning behind the change.
Frequently asked questions
What is Aider?
Aider is a terminal-based AI coding assistant for developers that edits code in context using a repository map, git workflow, and live linting and testing. It supports cloud and local LLMs, accepts images and web pages as context, and works with 100+ code languages. Aider also integrates with Git and runs in your IDE.
What is Aider used for? Who is it for?
Aider is used for Cloud and local LLMs, Maps your codebase, and 100+ code languages. It's built for Backend engineers, Frontend developers, and Monorepo maintainers.
Does Aider have an API and what does it integrate with?
Aider doesn't publish a public API. It integrates with Claude 3.7 Sonnet, DeepSeek R1, Chat V3, OpenAI o1, o3-mini, and 1 more.
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