Aider Setup Guide

Aider is a practical terminal pair-programming tool that works especially well for small iterative code changes, diff review, explicit context-file control, and repeated fix cycles inside a git repo. For Crazyrouter, the safest path is Aider’s officially supported OpenAI-compatible setup.

Overview

With environment variables or ~/.aider.conf.yml, Aider can send requests to Crazyrouter:

recommended protocol: OpenAI-compatible API
base URL: https://crazyrouter.com/v1
auth variable: OPENAI_API_KEY
recommended default model string: gpt-5.4

If your main workflow is read code -> edit a few places -> inspect the diff -> refine once more, Aider is often one of the lightest and easiest tools to operationalize.

Best For

users who want small-step code edits from the terminal
workflows that need explicit control over context files, diffs, and commit cadence
teams that want Aider billed separately from Codex or Claude Code
users who want the simplest OpenAI-compatible Crazyrouter setup path

Protocol Used

Recommended protocol: OpenAI-compatible API Aider officially supports these settings:

OPENAI_API_KEY
OPENAI_API_BASE
openai-api-key
openai-api-base

For Crazyrouter, use:

OPENAI_API_BASE=https://crazyrouter.com/v1

One important accuracy detail: Crazyrouter model names are the raw model IDs shown in the model list and pricing page, such as gpt-5.4 and claude-sonnet-4-6. Use that raw model ID directly in Aider:

gpt-5.4

Do not add an extra openai/ prefix to Crazyrouter model names. openai/gpt-5.4 is not a Crazyrouter model ID and can cause model not found or no-route failures.

Prerequisites

Item	Notes
Crazyrouter account	Create one at crazyrouter.com
Crazyrouter token	Create a dedicated token for Aider
Git	Prefer `git 2.23+`
Python	If you use the `aider-install` path, make sure you have `Python 3.8-3.13`; if you use the official one-line installer, it can provision Python 3.12 as needed
Aider	Use a current stable version
Git repo	Aider generally works best inside a git repo
Allowed models	Allow at least one coding-friendly model

Suggested starter allowlist:

gpt-5.4
claude-sonnet-4-6
gemini-3-pro

Full Install Path By Operating System

Recommended Windows Path

The most reliable Windows setup is: Git + Python + PowerShell install flow for Aider + PowerShell environment variables. Recommended order:

Install Git
Install Python
Install Aider from the official PowerShell installer, or use aider-install
Set temporary env vars in PowerShell
Persist user-level env vars in PowerShell
Open a fresh terminal and verify both the command and variables

Recommended verification commands:

git --version
python --version
pip --version
aider --version
where.exe git
where.exe python
where.exe aider

If aider --version is not found, close and reopen PowerShell and try again.

Recommended macOS Path

The smoothest macOS setup is usually: Xcode Command Line Tools + Homebrew + Git + Python + Aider official installer + ~/.zshrc for persistent env vars. Recommended order:

Install Xcode Command Line Tools
Install Homebrew if needed
Install Git and Python
Run Aider’s official installer, or install via aider-install or uv
Persist env vars in ~/.zshrc
Open a fresh terminal and verify the executable path

Recommended verification commands:

git --version
python3 --version
pip3 --version
aider --version
which git
which python3
which aider

Linux Note

Linux can generally follow the same terminal flow as macOS, except persistent variables usually belong in ~/.bashrc. For a first pass, it is safer to validate with temporary env vars before making the setup permanent.

Detailed Install Walkthrough

Before connecting Aider to Crazyrouter, make sure the local toolchain is ready.

1. Install Git

Windows PowerShell
macOS
Ubuntu / Debian

winget install --id Git.Git -e --source winget
git --version
where.exe git

xcode-select --install
git --version

Or:

brew install git
git --version
which git

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git
git --version
which git

Recommended one-time identity setup:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

2. Install Python and pip

Windows PowerShell
macOS
Ubuntu / Debian

winget install Python.Python.3.12
python --version
pip --version
where.exe python

brew install python
python3 --version
pip3 --version
which python3

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y python3 python3-pip python3-venv
python3 --version
pip3 --version
which python3

3. Install Aider

Aider’s current official one-line installers are:

Windows PowerShell
macOS / Linux

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://aider.chat/install.ps1 | iex"
aider --version
where.exe aider

curl -LsSf https://aider.chat/install.sh | sh
aider --version
which aider

If you prefer a more explicit step-by-step install, Aider’s official aider-install flow is also valid:

Windows PowerShell
macOS / Linux

python -m pip install aider-install
aider-install
aider --version

python3 -m pip install aider-install
aider-install
aider --version

If your team already standardizes on uv, Aider’s docs also allow:

python -m pip install uv
uv tool install --force --python python3.12 --with pip aider-chat@latest
aider --version

Avoid starting with a plain system-wide pip install aider-chat. Aider’s own installers, aider-install, or uv are usually safer and easier to debug.

Quick Start

Create an Aider-specific token

In Crazyrouter, create a token named something like aider. Start by allowing only models such as gpt-5.4, claude-sonnet-4-6, and gemini-3-pro.

The allowlist here uses Crazyrouter’s raw model IDs. Use the same raw model IDs in Aider.

Set the environment variables

Linux / macOS
Windows PowerShell

export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxx
export OPENAI_API_BASE=https://crazyrouter.com/v1
echo $OPENAI_API_KEY
echo $OPENAI_API_BASE

$env:OPENAI_API_KEY = "sk-xxx"
$env:OPENAI_API_BASE = "https://crazyrouter.com/v1"
echo $env:OPENAI_API_KEY
echo $env:OPENAI_API_BASE

Persist the environment variables

Linux Bash
macOS / Zsh
Windows PowerShell

echo 'export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxx' >> ~/.bashrc
echo 'export OPENAI_API_BASE=https://crazyrouter.com/v1' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
echo $OPENAI_API_BASE

echo 'export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxx' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'export OPENAI_API_BASE=https://crazyrouter.com/v1' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc
echo $OPENAI_API_BASE

[System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("OPENAI_API_KEY", "sk-xxx", "User")
[System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("OPENAI_API_BASE", "https://crazyrouter.com/v1", "User")

$env:OPENAI_API_KEY = "sk-xxx"
$env:OPENAI_API_BASE = "https://crazyrouter.com/v1"

Optionally add a config file

Add this to ~/.aider.conf.yml:

model: gpt-5.4
openai-api-base: https://crazyrouter.com/v1

If you prefer a safer secret-handling pattern, keep the key only in environment variables and store only model plus openai-api-base in the config file.

Prepare the repo before the first real run

If this folder is not a Git repo yet:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "chore: initial snapshot before Aider"

If it is already an existing repo, at least inspect the current state first:

git status

Launch Aider inside your repo

aider --model gpt-5.4

Run the first validation

Start with a low-risk task such as: Check the README for typos and suggest the smallest safe edits. Confirm Aider can read files and respond sensibly before using it for real code changes.

Recommended Model Setup

Use case	Recommended Aider model string	Why
default coding driver	`gpt-5.4`	uses Crazyrouter’s raw model ID and works as the OpenAI-compatible Aider baseline
Claude-style alternative	`claude-sonnet-4-6`	good for long-context explanation and steady multi-turn collaboration
Gemini fallback path	`gemini-3-pro`	useful as a second compatibility-validation path

Recommended rollout: start with gpt-5.4. Then add claude-sonnet-4-6 or gemini-3-pro only after the baseline path is stable.

Token Setup Best Practices

Setting	Recommendation	Notes
dedicated token	Required	Do not share the Aider token with other IDE or CLI tools
model allowlist	Strongly recommended	Keep the model set small to avoid accidental high-cost switching
IP restriction	Situational	Consider it on fixed servers; be careful on mobile dev machines
quota cap	Strongly recommended	Long sessions and repeated repair loops can add up quickly
environment split	Recommended	Separate local development, remote hosts, and CI
leak response	Rotate immediately	If `.aider.conf.yml`, shell history, or recordings expose the key, rotate it

Verification Checklist

Common Errors And Fixes

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
`401 unauthorized`	wrong, expired, or incomplete API key	generate a new token and set it again
`403` or `model not allowed`	the token does not allow the selected model	allow that model in Crazyrouter token settings
`404`	wrong base URL or missing `/v1`	use `https://crazyrouter.com/v1`
`model not found`	wrong model string, an unsupported `openai/` prefix, or a model that is not currently available on Crazyrouter	switch back to a raw model ID that exists on the pricing page or model list, such as `gpt-5.4` or `claude-sonnet-4-6`
Aider launches but performs poorly	the model is too weak or the context is too noisy	return to `gpt-5.4` and reduce the context files
config file and env vars behave inconsistently	the two configuration sources conflict	pick one primary source and restart Aider
cost rises too quickly	long sessions and too many context files	clear or restart the session and shrink the context

Performance And Cost Tips

validate on a small repo first
keep gpt-5.4 as the main model and add claude-sonnet-4-6 only when you need cross-vendor validation
split tokens by project type so cost tracking stays clear
clear context when the session becomes too long or drifts away from the task
after larger edits, review both the Aider diff and Crazyrouter logs

FAQ

What base URL should I use for Aider?

Use https://crazyrouter.com/v1.

Why should the model name not be `openai/gpt-5.4`?

Because Crazyrouter model names do not include provider prefixes. Crazyrouter recognizes raw model IDs such as gpt-5.4; openai/gpt-5.4 is treated as a different model name and is not available.

Should I prefer env vars or a config file?

Both work. Environment variables are faster for a first setup; ~/.aider.conf.yml is useful once the setup becomes permanent.

Which model should I try first?

Start with gpt-5.4.

Does Aider have to run inside a git repo?

Not strictly, but the experience is usually best inside a git repo because change review is easier and safer.

Why should I avoid allowing too many models at first?

Because multi-turn sessions make troubleshooting, budget control, and stability harder when the model surface area is too broad.

If you want a very lightweight terminal tool for day-to-day small-step coding, Aider still deserves a strong place in the Crazyrouter application guides.

API-ключи и управление консолью

SDK и примеры кода

Интеграции

Overview

Best For

Protocol Used

Prerequisites

Full Install Path By Operating System

Recommended Windows Path

Recommended macOS Path

Linux Note

Detailed Install Walkthrough

1. Install Git

2. Install Python and pip

3. Install Aider

Quick Start

Recommended Model Setup

Token Setup Best Practices

Verification Checklist

Common Errors And Fixes

Performance And Cost Tips

FAQ

What base URL should I use for Aider?

Why should the model name not be `openai/gpt-5.4`?

Should I prefer env vars or a config file?

Which model should I try first?

Does Aider have to run inside a git repo?

Why should I avoid allowing too many models at first?

API-ключи и управление консолью

SDK и примеры кода

Интеграции

Documentation Index

​Overview

​Best For

​Protocol Used

​Prerequisites

​Full Install Path By Operating System

​Recommended Windows Path

​Recommended macOS Path

​Linux Note

​Detailed Install Walkthrough

​1. Install Git

​2. Install Python and pip

​3. Install Aider

​Quick Start

​Recommended Model Setup

​Token Setup Best Practices

​Verification Checklist

​Common Errors And Fixes

​Performance And Cost Tips

​FAQ

​What base URL should I use for Aider?

​Why should the model name not be openai/gpt-5.4?

​Should I prefer env vars or a config file?

​Which model should I try first?

​Does Aider have to run inside a git repo?

​Why should I avoid allowing too many models at first?

Overview

Best For

Protocol Used

Prerequisites

Full Install Path By Operating System

Recommended Windows Path

Recommended macOS Path

Linux Note

Detailed Install Walkthrough

1. Install Git

2. Install Python and pip

3. Install Aider

Quick Start

Recommended Model Setup

Token Setup Best Practices

Verification Checklist

Common Errors And Fixes

Performance And Cost Tips

FAQ

What base URL should I use for Aider?

Why should the model name not be `openai/gpt-5.4`?

Should I prefer env vars or a config file?

Which model should I try first?

Does Aider have to run inside a git repo?

Why should I avoid allowing too many models at first?