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aider is AI pair programming in your terminal

November 8, 2023
aider is AI pair programming in your terminal

Aider: Your New Pair Programming Buddy!

Have you ever needed a helping hand while coding? Maybe you've got a complex project and need some intelligent suggestions. With Aider, you can have an AI-powered partner right in your terminal!

What is Aider?

Aider is a simple yet powerful command line tool that allows you to engage in pair programming with GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. Aider specializes in editing code stored in your local git repository. It doesn't matter if it's a new project or an existing repo, Aider seamlessly integrates with your coding environment.

How Does it Work?

When you start using Aider, you can engage in a chat with it via your command line, discussing and editing your code together. Here are a few amazing features that make Aider stand out:

  • Chat with GPT about your code and edit the content of files directly from your terminal.
  • Get help with most popular languages including Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, just to name a few.
  • Request new features, changes, improvements, or bug fixes to your code and see GPT apply them directly to your source files.

In addition, Aider automatically commits each changeset to your local git repository with a descriptive commit message. This ensures that you always have a safety net to fall back on. If needed, it's easy to undo changes or use standard git workflows to manage longer sequences of changes.

New GPT-4 Turbo with 128k context window

Recently, Aider has added support for OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, featuring a massive 128k context window. This new model is extremely fast and has shown to be even better at suggesting code than previous GPT-4 models.

Getting Started

Getting started with Aider is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is install it using pip, set your OpenAI API key, and you're ready to start chatting and coding with Aider!

Example Chat Transcripts

If you're curious about what a chat with Aider might look like, check out the example transcripts on the Aider website. These transcripts exhibit various scenarios such as creating a Flask app, modifying JavaScript games, and debugging complex code.

Pros:

  • Seamless integration with your local git repository.
  • Encourages efficient pair programming with AI.
  • Automatic commits provide a safety net for suggested changes.
  • Supports multiple popular coding languages.

Cons:

  • May be less suitable for developers who prefer not to use AI in their workflow.

In conclusion, Aider holds enough promise to change the way you code. It's like having a pair programming partner at your disposal anytime, without needing to share your caffeinated drink! Give Aider a try and experience a whole new way of coding.

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