Aider

Aider is a terminal-first AI pair programmer that edits your repository through structured conversations, applying changes as real git commits you can review, revert, or iterate on. It works with multiple LLMs (OpenAI, Anthropic, local models) and stays grounded in your repo by reading referenced files, running searches, and proposing minimal, coherent diffs.

Common workflows include implementing features across multiple files, fixing failing tests, and refactoring modules while preserving behavior. Aider cites files in messages, keeps a running context of relevant code, and summarizes long diffs to keep discussions focused. It is especially effective for large refactors because it plans edits, explains trade-offs, and commits incrementally.

Because Aider speaks git natively, it fits cleanly into existing workflows—branches, PRs, CI, and code review. Teams use it to bootstrap new components, migrate frameworks, and reduce technical debt in a controlled, auditable way.