tninja/aider.el

What is it?

Key features

• 01Starts a git-repository-specific Aider session in an Emacs comint buffer.
• 02Refactors a selected region or the function under the cursor via a command.
• 03Implements TODO comments in place in the current context.
• 04Generates unit tests for the current function or file.
• 05Supports a TDD red-green-refactor command and asking questions about code.
• 06Provides an Org-based prompt file with syntax highlighting, snippets and region sending.

Use cases

• Emacs users who want Aider's AI pair programming without switching to a terminal.
• Refactoring a function or region in place with AI assistance.
• Drafting and reusing multi-line prompts for a large code change split into subtasks.
• Writing unit tests and running a TDD-style workflow from the editor.

Quick start

1. 1

   Install the aider CLI from the aider docs

2. 2

   Install aider.el in Emacs 30+ with package-vc-install

   (package-vc-install '(aider :url "https://github.com/tninja/aider.el"))
3. 3

   Add the use-package configuration to your init.el and set your model API key

Things to know

• !Requires the separate aider CLI and a model API key, such as Anthropic, OpenAI or Gemini.
• !Also needs Transient, Magit and Markdown-mode installed in Emacs.

Topics

FAQ

What is aider.el?

An Emacs Lisp package that puts the Aider AI pair-programming tool inside Emacs, with transient menus, code-region refactoring and prompt files. aider.el is an Emacs package that provides a user interface for the Aider terminal AI coding tool, so developers can work with Aider without leaving Emacs. It runs an Aider session in a comint buffer tied to each git repository, and offers a transient menu for adding files, asking questions and requesting changes.

Is aider.el free to use? What license does it have?

aider.el is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.

Is aider.el still maintained?

Updated within 6 months. The last commit to aider.el was on Oct 4, 2026.

What can I use aider.el for?

Emacs users who want Aider's AI pair programming without switching to a terminal. Refactoring a function or region in place with AI assistance. Drafting and reusing multi-line prompts for a large code change split into subtasks. Writing unit tests and running a TDD-style workflow from the editor.

How do I install aider.el?

Install the aider CLI from the aider docs Install aider.el in Emacs 30+ with package-vc-install: (package-vc-install '(aider :url "https://github.com/tninja/aider.el")) Add the use-package configuration to your init.el and set your model API key

Where can I get aider.el?

The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/tninja/aider.el