Aider
A terminal pair programmer that edits files straight in your working tree and commits each change with a generated message. No copy-paste loop.
Tested on Claude Sonnet · 4.5 ·
CLI · Free, open source; you pay only for the API you connect
Aider differs from a chat panel because it writes to disk and to git. Describe a change, review the diff, and it is already a commit you can amend or revert like any other. Iteration is fast if you are comfortable on the command line. If you would rather not leave the editor to review a diff, you will not enjoy it.
It works with most hosted model APIs and, through Ollama, with local models. Answer quality follows whichever model you connect, since Aider is mostly the editing and git loop around the model call.
Notes from the author
Give each message one logical change. Every run becomes a commit, so three unrelated fixes in one instruction make one commit that is hard to revert cleanly.
For information only, not professional advice. You use it at your own risk and we are not liable for any loss or damage. See the disclaimer.
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