Aider

You install Aider with the aider-install helper from pip, with the one-line installers for macOS, Linux and Windows, or with uv or pipx; it can also run in Docker. Then you change into your project directory and start aider with the model and API key you want to use.

You add the files you want changed to the chat and describe the task. Aider sends your request along with its repository map, so the model can see classes, functions and signatures from across the codebase and ask for more files when it needs them.

• •Repository Map - A compact map of the files and key symbols in your repo, trimmed with a graph ranking algorithm to the parts most relevant to the request, so the model understands how code fits together.
• •Git-Native Workflow - Aider commits each change with a Conventional Commits message, commits your own uncommitted work first so it stays separate, and marks its commits with (aider) in the author name.
• •Chat Modes - Code, ask and help modes, plus architect mode, where one model proposes a solution and a second editor model turns it into precise file edits.
• •Lint and Test Loop - Built-in linters for most popular languages, or your own lint command, plus an optional test command after each edit; Aider reads the errors and attempts a fix.
• •Works From Your Editor - With --watch-files, Aider watches your repo for comments ending in AI! or AI? that you write in any IDE or editor, then makes the change or answers the question.

Aider suits developers who are comfortable in the terminal and with git and who want to stay in control of which model they use and what it costs. If you already pay for API access from Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek or another provider, or prefer to run a local model, Aider adds no subscription on top.