Vibe coding tool
Aider
AI pair programming in your terminal — and it can run on free local models.
Terminal · cloud or local modelsOpen-source (Apache-2.0) · bring your own key (or a local model)Terminal builders who want a free agent with a clean git history
What it is
Aider is an open-source terminal pair-programmer (46k+ stars, Apache-2.0) that edits files in your git repo and makes a clean commit for every change it makes.
It works with Claude and GPT, but also with local models through Ollama — so you can code with zero API cost when money is tight, and you always have a git history you can review and undo.
Install & set up
1. Install
Install with the official installer (Python). See aider.chat for the current recommended command.
python -m pip install aider-install && aider-install2. Start in a repo
Run it inside a git project and tell it what to change.
cd my-project && aider3. Go free with a local model (optional)
Point Aider at an Ollama model to code offline at no cost.
aider --model ollama/qwen2.5-coderFrom install to your first verified proof
The tool drafts; you stay accountable. Here is the path from a fresh install to a proof you can defend.
1Pick one small change. State what you want before you ask.
2Let Aider make the edit; read the diff in the commit it creates before you trust it.
3Run the app, test on a phone, fix one bug yourself so you can explain it.
4Deploy and log it at /proof with the live URL, repo, and your Explain.
The proof tie: Aider gives you a git trail of every AI edit — use it to inspect and explain your work, then ship the proof.
Strengths & gotchas
Strengths
- Free when you use local models via Ollama
- Commits every change to git, so nothing is a black box
- Runs in any terminal, including over SSH
- Mature and fast, with a large community
Gotchas
- Terminal-only — no GUI
- Best results still need a capable model
- You must review the diffs it commits