Aider Review
The open-source CLI pair-programmer — git-native, model-agnostic, no lock-in.
Rating: 4.3/5
Aider is the pick for developers who want zero lock-in and a workflow that treats git as the source of truth. Every change is a commit, so undo is just `git revert`. Bring the strongest model you can afford; the CLI does the rest. It won’t replace an IDE assistant if you want autocomplete, but as an agentic pair-programmer it punches above its weight.
Pros
- Open source and model-agnostic — swap providers freely
- Every change lands as a real git commit with a message
- Runs entirely in your terminal — pairs cleanly with any editor
Cons
- No inline completion — this is a chat-driven CLI, not autocomplete
- You’re responsible for choosing and paying for the model