aider-chat

What it is and what it does

Aider is a terminal-based AI pair programming tool that connects to large language models (Claude, DeepSeek, OpenAI, or local models) to help you write, modify, and debug code interactively. You describe what you want to build or change in plain language, and Aider edits your files, then automatically commits changes to git with sensible messages. It understands your entire codebase through a repo map, supports over 100 programming languages, and can accept images and web pages as context.

The tool is designed to keep you in control: you review changes before they're committed, can use familiar git tools to undo or inspect edits, and can integrate it into your IDE via a watch mode. It also supports linting and testing hooks so Aider can fix problems your test suite catches. With 107 runtime dependencies, it brings a substantial ecosystem of HTTP, async, parsing, and LLM-integration libraries—making it a heavyweight but feature-complete solution for AI-assisted development.

Use it for:

• Start a new project from scratch by describing requirements in natural language and letting Aider generate initial code structure
• Add features to an existing codebase by asking Aider to implement specific functionality while it maintains git history
• Fix bugs by describing the problem and having Aider suggest and apply corrections, with automatic linting and test validation
• Refactor code by requesting style or architecture changes and reviewing Aider's edits before committing
• Generate test cases by asking Aider to write tests for your functions and modules

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Aider is an AI pair programming tool that runs in your terminal, letting you collaborate with LLMs to build new projects or modify existing codebases through natural conversation.

Yes, with conditions. Aider is actively maintained, has low install friction, and solves a real problem for developers wanting AI-assisted coding in the terminal. However, you must: (1) address the 4 known security vulnerabilities before using it in production or with sensitive code, (2) have an API key for a supported LLM and budget for token costs, and (3) accept Python 3.10–3.12 as your runtime constraint. The large dependency footprint is justified by its feature set, but review the security advisories first.

Install

aider-chat on PyPI

pip install aider-chat

uv add aider-chat

poetry add aider-chat

Installing aider-chat

Before you install

Low install friction with a pure Python wheel. Active maintenance with recent commits (last update 2026-05-22) and substantial community engagement (48203 stars). However, 4 known security vulnerabilities are present that warrant review before deployment.

License in practice

Licensed under Apache 2.0 (permissive treatment), which allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions—suitable for most development workflows.

Quickstart

pip install aider-chat
aider --model deepseek --api-key deepseek=YOUR_KEY
# Then in your terminal, describe code changes in natural language

Requires Python 3.10–3.12 (capped below 3.13). You must have an API key for at least one supported LLM (DeepSeek, Claude, OpenAI, or compatible service).

Verify before relying

• Whether the 4 security vulnerabilities (GHSA-7w7m-v5vp-w699, GHSA-hchg-qm84-cj9p, PYSEC-2026-2335, PYSEC-2026-2336) are actively exploitable or patched in 0.86.2
• Performance and token cost when working with large codebases or many files in a single session
• Whether git integration works reliably across all major version control workflows and edge cases

Package facts

Evidence: aider_chat-0.86.2-py3-none-any.whl

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Further reading