Aider is a terminal-based AI pair programming tool that enables direct editing of local Git repositories through natural language dialogue.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install aider
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install aider using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is Aider?
Aider represents a powerful shift in developer workflows by bringing AI directly into the command line interface. As a core component of the Openclaw Skills ecosystem, it allows developers to treat chat as the primary programming interface. By integrating deeply with local Git repositories, Aider doesn't just suggest code; it actively manages the codebase by editing files, maintaining consistency across multiple documents, and automatically generating semantic commit messages.
Built for precision and control, this tool leverages advanced indexing via tree-sitter to create a comprehensive Repo Map. This ensures the AI understands the full architecture of your project, making it far more effective than standard chat interfaces for complex refactoring and large-scale feature development.
Aider Use Cases
- Rapid bug fixing where the AI locates, repairs, and commits the fix automatically.
- Adding new features across multiple files while maintaining architectural consistency.
- Complex code refactoring using the specialized Architect mode for planning and execution.
- Automated unit test generation by adding source files to the AI context.
- Non-destructive code reviews and logic analysis using the specialized ask mode.
How Aider Works
- The user launches Aider in their local project directory, which initializes the Git-aware environment.
- A Repo Map is generated using tree-sitter to provide the AI with a structured overview of the entire codebase.
- The developer adds specific files to the active context using the /add command to focus the AI's attention.
- Through natural language prompts, the user describes desired changes or asks technical questions.
- Aider processes the request, modifies the local files, runs integrated linters or tests, and automatically creates a Git commit with a descriptive message.
Aider Setup
Install Aider via pip or pipx to get started with Openclaw Skills for terminal automation:
# Standard installation
pip install aider-chat
# Recommended isolated installation
pipx install aider-chat
# Set your API keys in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-key-here"
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key-here"
Create a .aider.conf.yml in your project root for persistent configuration:
model: sonnet
auto-commits: true
gitignore: true
lint-cmd: "ruff check --fix"
test-cmd: "pytest tests/ -x"
Aider Data Schema & Taxonomy
Aider organizes its technical context and session metadata through the following structure:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| .aider.conf.yml | Project-level configuration for models, linting, and behavior. |
| Repo Map | A structure-aware index generated from the local Git repository. |
| Context Window | A dynamic set of files manually managed via /add and /drop commands. |
| Git History | Automatic semantic commits tracking every AI-driven modification. |
| .aider.chat.history.md | (Optional) Persistent log of the dialogue and changes made during sessions. |
Aider Advanced Features
- Architect Mode: Uses a dual-model strategy where a high-reasoning model (like Claude 3.5 Opus) plans the solution and a faster model (like Sonnet) executes the code.
- Linting Integration: Automatically triggers your preferred linter and fixes identified issues in real-time.
- Test-Driven Repair: Run test suites via /test; Aider will automatically analyze failures and attempt to fix the code until tests pass.
- Multi-Model Support: Seamlessly switch between Claude, GPT-4o, DeepSeek, or local models via Ollama.
- Shell Integration: Use /run to execute shell commands and feed the output directly back into the AI context for troubleshooting.
SKILL.md
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