Aider
FreeAI pair programming in your terminal. Chat with GPT-4 and Claude to edit code in your local git repo with automatic commits and multi-file support.
What does this tool do?
Aider is a terminal-based AI pair programming tool that integrates large language models (Claude, GPT-4, DeepSeek) directly into your development workflow. Unlike web-based coding assistants, Aider operates within your git repository, allowing the AI to read your entire codebase, understand its structure through repository mapping, and make multi-file edits with automatic git commits. The tool maintains conversation history within your terminal session and can lint/test code automatically after each change. It supports 100+ programming languages and integrates with your IDE through a watch mode, letting you request changes via code comments. The standout feature is its deep git integration—changes are committed with sensible messages and can be easily reviewed, diffed, or reverted using familiar git tools, treating AI modifications as first-class code changes rather than copy-paste suggestions.
AI analysis from Feb 23, 2026
Key Features
- Repository mapping—automatically indexes and understands your entire codebase structure to provide context-aware code generation
- Multi-file editing with automatic git commits and sensible commit messages for all AI-generated changes
- Support for 100+ programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Rust, Go, C++, PHP, HTML, CSS
- Integration with multiple LLM providers (Claude, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Anthropic) and support for local/self-hosted models
- Automatic linting and testing—runs your test suites and linters after each change and fixes problems automatically
- IDE integration via watch mode—request code changes by adding comments in your editor
- Voice-to-code capability—speak requests and let Aider implement changes
- Image and webpage context—include screenshots, documentation, or visual references in conversations
Use Cases
- 1Rapidly bootstrapping new projects by describing requirements to the AI, which generates boilerplate and project structure
- 2Adding features to large existing codebases where the AI needs to understand multiple files and maintain consistency
- 3Refactoring legacy code by asking the AI to improve specific sections while preserving functionality
- 4Generating test cases and fixing bugs identified by linters and test suites automatically
- 5Learning new programming languages or frameworks by pair programming with detailed AI guidance
- 6Handling repetitive coding tasks like boilerplate generation, API integration, or configuration file updates
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- True multi-file editing with full codebase awareness—the AI understands your entire repository structure, not just isolated snippets
- Git-native workflow with automatic, reviewable commits—changes aren't black-box suggestions but manageable code that can be diffed and reverted
- Works with multiple leading LLMs (Claude, GPT-4, DeepSeek, o3-mini, local models) allowing you to choose based on capability and cost
- Integrated linting and testing—the AI can automatically fix problems detected by your tools, creating a feedback loop
- Terminal-first design eliminates context-switching and integrates naturally into existing developer workflows
Limitations
- Requires API keys and paid LLM access (OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek)—there's no free tier, only the open-source tool itself
- Terminal-based interface has a learning curve compared to web-based alternatives; not ideal for non-technical team members
- Dependent on LLM quality and token limits—complex projects may exceed context windows, and model accuracy varies significantly
- Relies on well-structured git repositories; doesn't work well with messy project structures or non-git version control systems
- No built-in safeguards against the AI making breaking changes; you're responsible for reviewing commits before merging
Pricing Details
Pricing details not publicly available. Aider itself is open-source, but usage costs depend on which LLM you connect—you pay the LLM provider's standard API rates (Claude 3.7 Sonnet, OpenAI o3-mini, DeepSeek, etc.). No subscription required through Aider.
Who is this for?
Professional software developers and engineering teams working on projects with git version control. Best suited for developers comfortable with terminal tools and who want fine-grained control over AI-assisted code generation. Ideal for teams where code review and change tracking are important. Not well-suited for solo non-technical users or organizations without established development workflows.