Open CLI

aider

scriptableai
$ pipx install aider-chat
Summary

Code editing, agent loops, and repo-aware chat from the terminal.

  • aider fits local ai well, especially for code editing, agent loops, and repo-aware chat from the terminal.
  • 1,462 homebrew installs (30d).
  • Easy to automate.
  • Good fit for coding-agent workflows and repeatable scripts.
  • Output is mostly text-first, so verify results before scripting around it.
ai-aider-SKILL.md

Aider guide

Code editing, agent loops, and repo-aware chat from the terminal. Built by aider.

Open CLI packages the install path, verify step, and safe-start workflow so this tool can move from “interesting CLI” to something you can actually use. It also integrates with skills.sh so each CLI comes with the right companion skills, not just a binary and a docs link.

When to apply

  • code editing, agent loops, and repo-aware chat from the terminal.
  • You work with AI models and inference and want a fast terminal interface.
  • You need code editing.
  • You need agent loops.
  • You need repo-aware chat.

Quick reference

Installpipx install aider-chat
Verifyaider --help
First real commandaider --model sonnet

Open CLI × skills.sh

Open CLI integrates aider with the right skills.sh companions so you get the tool and the workflow together.

Prompt Engineering

Verified pairing

Open CLI integrates aider with this skills.sh skill because it is the clearest fit for how aider is usually used. Use sharper prompts so AI CLIs and agents produce more reliable results.

View on skills.sh
$ npx skills add https://github.com/inferen-sh/skills --skill prompt-engineering
Starter prompt

Use aider together with the Prompt Engineering skills.sh skill. Start with a small prompt or read-only action, show the result, and propose the next loop before escalating scope.

Also useful from skills.sh
Code Reviewskills.shAI Automation Workflowsskills.sh

Why this tool

  • aider fits local ai well, especially for code editing, agent loops, and repo-aware chat from the terminal.
  • 1,462 homebrew installs (30d).
  • Easy to automate.

Watch-outs

  • Sign in before real work.
  • Needs network access.
  • Output is mostly plain text.

Example workflow

1. aider --model sonnet

Safe start

Step 1

Install aider.

Step 2

Run `aider --help` first.

Step 3

Start with `aider --model sonnet`.

Step 4

Authenticate aider before asking the agent to do real work.

Alternatives worth considering

claude

Coding agent, refactors, and codebase search from the terminal.

codex

Coding agent, terminal code tasks, and prompted edits from the terminal.

gemini

Coding agent, prompting, and terminal assistance from the terminal.