AiderBuilder

A simple, self-contained, zsh script implementing a generalist, recursive, LLM agent using aider.chat.

It was created for situations where I have written extensive specifications for a project and don't want to spend my attention to split the specs into a plan for an LLM.

Examples of successful usage include:

• turning a survey into a full fledged gradio app with specific requirements.
• recording audio for a while then using that transcript as specification to create a PDF using LaTeX.

AiderBuilder itself was built with the help of aider.chat.

What It Does

Runs aider in a loop with builder rules that maintain a ROADMAP.md file to coordinate incremental development across iterations. Aider creates FINISHED.md when complete.

Requirements

• zsh shell
• aider in PATH

Installation

chmod +x aider_builder

Usage

./aider_builder -n_iter N -s "what to build" [AIDER_ARGS...]

Required Arguments

• -n_iter N: Iterations per batch (must be > 1)
• -s, --specifications SPEC: What to build (passed as prompt to aider). Can be a direct string or a path to a file containing the specifications.

Optional Arguments

• -h, --help: Show help
• -v, --version: Show version
• AIDER_ARGS...: Additional aider arguments (don't use --message, use -s instead)

Examples

# Build a CLI tool with inline specification
./aider_builder -n_iter 5 -s "Create a Python CLI calculator using click"

# Build from a specification file
./aider_builder -n_iter 10 -s specs.txt

# With architect mode
./aider_builder -n_iter 10 -s "Build a REST API with FastAPI" --architect

How It Works

1. Checks no FINISHED.md exists from previous builds
2. Creates ROADMAP.md if it doesn't exist (via touch)
3. Loads builder rules into aider
4. Runs n_iter iterations where aider:
   • Always has ROADMAP.md in the chat context (via --file flag)
   • Creates/updates ROADMAP.md to track progress
   • Performs one development step at a time
   • Records decisions and issues in ROADMAP.md
5. Prompts to continue after each batch
6. Stops when aider creates FINISHED.md

Builder Rules

Aider is instructed to:

• Use ROADMAP.md for coordination with TODO checkboxes
• Work incrementally, one step at a time
• Record design decisions and errors
• Estimate progress at each iteration
• Create FINISHED.md when done