Aider Multi-Model Launcher

This repository provides a flexible and easy-to-use setup for running the Aider AI coding assistant. It allows you to easily switch between different large language models (like GPT-4o and Claude Sonnet) and manage your API keys securely.

Features

• Multi-Model Support: Easily launch Aider with different AI models.
• Centralized Configuration: A single config.yaml file manages all your API keys and settings.
• One-Click Start: A simple batch script for Windows (start_aider.bat) automates the entire setup and launch process.
• Automatic Environment Setup: The script handles the creation of a Python virtual environment and installation of dependencies.
• Browser-Based UI: Launches Aider with the web browser interface enabled by default for a richer user experience.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8 or higher.
• Valid API keys for the AI models you intend to use (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic).

Setup and Usage

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone <repository_url>
   cd <repository_name>

2. Configure API Keys: Create a config.yaml file in the root of the project. You can copy the example below and replace the placeholder values with your actual API keys.

3. Launch Aider: Simply double-click the start_aider.bat file. It will:

   • Create a local Python virtual environment (.venv).
   • Install the necessary dependencies (PyYAML and aider-chat).
   • Run the aider_config.py script to start Aider with your configuration.

Project Components

config.yaml

This file is the central hub for your API keys and Aider settings. It must be present for the launcher script to work.

Example config.yaml:

# API Keys (replace with your actual keys)
openai-api-key: your_openai_api_key_here
anthropic-api-key: your_anthropic_api_key_here
 
# Settings
gatherUsageStats: true

aider_config.py

This Python script reads the configuration from config.yaml and launches Aider with the appropriate settings:

• Supports multiple AI models (GPT-4o and Claude Sonnet)
• Launches with browser interface enabled
• Uses ThreadPoolExecutor for concurrent model launching

The script automatically selects the correct API key based on the model being used.

start_aider.bat

A Windows batch script that:

1. Creates and activates a Python virtual environment if one doesn't exist
2. Installs required dependencies (PyYAML and aider-chat)
3. Runs the aider_config.py script

Simply double-click this file to launch Aider with your configured settings.

Setup Instructions

1. Clone this repository
2. Create a config.yaml file with your API keys (see example above)
3. Double-click start_aider.bat to launch Aider

Requirements

• Python 3.8 or higher
• Internet connection for API access
• Valid API keys for your preferred AI models

Notes

• The config.yaml file is added to .gitignore to prevent accidentally committing your API keys
• For security, never share your API keys or commit them to public repositories