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Aider Chat

Aider Chat is an AI tool for editing code in local git repositories, enhancing programming tasks with intelligent assistance.
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Aider Chat

What is Aider Chat?

Aider Chat is an AI pair programming tool designed for editing code in a local git repository. It allows users to pair program with Language Model AI (LLM) assistants like Claude 3.5 Sonnet, DeepSeek V3, o1, and GPT-4o. Aider Chat facilitates various tasks such as adding new features or test cases, describing bugs, refactoring code, updating documentation, and more. It supports multiple popular programming languages, can handle complex requests by editing multiple files simultaneously, and automatically commits changes to Git with sensible commit messages. Additionally, Aider Chat enables chatting with the AI assistant while editing files in the integrated development environment (IDE) or code editor, ensuring synchronization with the latest versions.

Who created Aider Chat?

Aider Chat was created by IndyDevDan. It was launched on May 16, 2023. The company details and additional founder information could not be found in the document.

What is Aider Chat used for?

  • Aider allows developers to edit code stored in their local git repository by seamlessly switching between the aider chat and their own code editor.
  • Developers can use Aider to ensure that edits from both themselves and GPT are committed to git with descriptive commit messages.
  • Aider is compatible with pre-existing, larger codebases.
  • Users can install Aider via pip and set their OpenAI API key to get started.
  • Aider supports chat commands for tasks like adding or removing files, undoing commits, displaying commit diffs, running shell commands, and requesting code changes through voice commands.
  • Aider excels in making coordinated code changes across multiple source files in a single changeset/commit.
  • In terms of code editing capabilities, Aider works with popular programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.
  • Users can request new features, bugs fixes, and improvements while also making manual edits using their preferred code editor.
  • Aider can provide GPT-4 with a comprehensive map of the entire git repository, aiding in understanding and modifying large codebases.
  • Overall, Aider provides a powerful and collaborative environment for developers to work with GPT-3.5/GPT-4 in pair programming scenarios, leveraging AI to enhance code development and streamline version control processes.
  • Editing code stored in a local git repository
  • Pair programming with GPT-3.5/GPT-4
  • Seamlessly switching between aider chat and code editor
  • Committing edits to git with descriptive commit messages
  • Working with pre-existing, larger codebases
  • Installing via pip and setting OpenAI API key
  • Discovering all files in a git repo and adding them to the chat session
  • Supporting chat commands for various actions like adding or removing files, undoing commits, displaying commit diffs, running shell commands, requesting code changes with voice commands
  • Making coordinated code changes across multiple source files in a single changeset/commit
  • Working with popular programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS
  • Refactor code
  • Edit code in a local git repository
  • Seamlessly switch between aider chat and own code editor
  • Commit edits to git with descriptive commit messages
  • Compatibility with pre-existing, larger codebases
  • Work with popular programming languages like Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS
  • Request new features, bug fixes, and improvements
  • Make manual edits using a preferred code editor
  • Provide GPT-4 with a comprehensive map of the entire git repository
  • Collaborative environment for developers to work with GPT-3.5/GPT-4 in pair programming scenarios
  • Enhance code development and streamline version control processes
  • Editing code stored in local git repository
  • Committing edits from developers and GPT with descriptive messages
  • Support for popular programming languages like Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, etc.
  • Adding or removing files, undoing commits, displaying commit diffs, running shell commands, requesting code changes using voice commands
  • Requesting new features, bug fixes, improvements, and manual edits
  • Providing GPT-4 with a comprehensive map of the entire git repository
  • Add new features or test cases
  • Describe a bug
  • Update docs
  • Edit multiple files at once for complex requests
  • Add images to the chat
  • Add URLs to the chat and have Aider read their content
  • Code with your voice

Who is Aider Chat for?

  • Software developer
  • Software Engineer
  • Quality assurance tester
  • Devops engineer
  • Technical writer
  • Project Manager
  • Data Scientist
  • Web Developer
  • Mobile App Developer
  • System Administrator

How to use Aider Chat?

To use Aider Chat, follow these comprehensive steps:

  1. Begin by installing Aider Chat if you have Python 3.8-3.13 installed. Use the command python -m pip install aider-install followed by aider-install in your terminal.

  2. Navigate to your project directory using the command cd /to/your/project.

  3. Start collaborating with Aider Chat by using specific models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet or GPT-4o on your code. For example, to work with Claude 3.5 Sonnet, use the command aider --model sonnet --anthropic-api-key your-key-goes-here.

  4. Run Aider with the files you want to edit by typing aider <file1> <file2> .... You can ask for various changes such as adding new features or test cases, describing bugs, refactoring code, updating documentation, and more.

  5. Aider Chat will automatically commit changes with a sensible message and can work with popular programming languages like Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, HTML, CSS, and more.

  6. Aider Chat allows you to work inside your favorite editor or IDE, edit multiple files at once, and integrates seamlessly with the git repository of your codebase.

  7. You can also enhance your coding experience by adding images and URLs to the chat, coding with your voice, and connecting to various Language Model Models (LLMs) for optimal performance.

By following these steps, you can effectively utilize Aider Chat for AI pair programming in your terminal.

Pros
  • Aider uses a map of the entire git repo to work well in larger codebases.
  • Aider has exhibited top tier performance on SWE Bench
  • Aider solved real GitHub issues from popular open source projects like django, scikitlearn, matplotlib, etc
  • Aider allows users to edit code stored in their local git repository by seamlessly switching between the aider chat and their own code editor.
  • Aider ensures that edits from both the developer and GPT are committed to git with descriptive commit messages.
  • Aider is compatible with pre-existing, larger codebases.
  • Users can install Aider via pip and set their OpenAI API key to get started.
  • Aider supports chat commands for tasks like adding or removing files, undoing commits, displaying commit diffs, running shell commands, and requesting code changes using voice commands.
  • Aider can make coordinated code changes across multiple source files in a single changeset/commit.
  • Aider can work with popular programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.
Cons
  • No explicit cons or missing features were mentioned in the documents for Aider Chat.
  • No specific cons or missing features mentioned in the documentation.
  • No cons found in the provided documentation.

Aider Chat FAQs

How can I get started with Aider Chat?
To get started with Aider Chat, you can quickly install it using 'python -m pip install aider-chat' and then change directory into a git repo to work with Claude 3.5 Sonnet or GPT-4o on your repository. More detailed installation instructions and documentation can be found on the Aider website.
What are the main features of Aider Chat?
Aider Chat allows you to edit files by running 'aider <file1> <file2>' and has the capability to work with various programming languages. It excels in making coordinated code changes across multiple files and provides features such as adding new features, describing bugs, running shell commands, and requesting code changes using voice commands.
What programming languages does Aider Chat support?
Aider Chat supports popular languages such as Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, HTML, CSS, and more.
How does Aider Chat ensure version control with edits?
Aider Chat commits changes automatically with sensible commit messages to maintain version control.
Does Aider Chat work well with large codebases?
Yes, Aider Chat works well with larger codebases by utilizing a map of the entire git repository, which helps in understanding and modifying large codebases.
What is the performance of Aider Chat like?
Aider Chat has top-tier performance, with one of the top scores on SWE Bench, a software engineering benchmark where it solved real issues from popular open source projects.
Can Aider Chat connect to various LLMs?
Yes, Aider Chat can connect to almost any LLM, working best with GPT-4o & Claude 3.5 Sonnet.
How can I provide feedback or suggest changes to Aider Chat?
You can provide feedback, suggest features, report bugs, or request changes by chatting with Aider and describing your needs, such as adding new features, test cases, bug descriptions, or code refactoring.

Get started with Aider Chat

Aider Chat reviews

How would you rate Aider Chat?
What’s your thought?
Liam O'Reilly
Liam O'Reilly November 19, 2024

What do you like most about using Aider Chat?

The integration with git is useful, and it automates some of the tedious aspects of version control.

What do you dislike most about using Aider Chat?

The AI's recommendations can be hit or miss, and I often find myself double-checking its outputs.

What problems does Aider Chat help you solve, and how does this benefit you?

It helps in managing my projects more efficiently, but I feel it lacks the sophistication of some higher-end tools.

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Ella Schneider
Ella Schneider December 14, 2024

What do you like most about using Aider Chat?

I appreciate the collaborative aspect of coding with AI. It feels like I have a coding partner.

What do you dislike most about using Aider Chat?

It can be a bit slow at times; I wish the responses were faster.

What problems does Aider Chat help you solve, and how does this benefit you?

It helps in maintaining organized commits and encourages more effective coding practices.

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Tobias Schmidt
Tobias Schmidt January 5, 2025

What do you like most about using Aider Chat?

The integration with git is helpful, making version control simpler.

What do you dislike most about using Aider Chat?

The learning curve is quite steep, and I often find the tool confusing.

What problems does Aider Chat help you solve, and how does this benefit you?

It helps with managing code revisions, but the interface needs improvement for better usability.

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