Aider Open Source CLI Review Compared to Modern Agentic Tools

In a recent exploration of agentic command-line interfaces (CLIs), the open-source tool Aider was put to the test against modern alternatives like Claude Code, Gemini CLI, and Warp. The review highlights both its capabilities and limitations in today's rapidly evolving AI coding landscape.

Installation and Setup

Aider installs as a Python project (versions 3.8-3.13) and supports multiple LLM backends including Anthropic, OpenAI, and self-hosted options via Ollama. The setup process revealed some quirks:

• Directory confusion when scanning repositories
• Basic terminal interface limitations (e.g., formatting issues when resizing)
• Clear cost tracking for API usage

Key Features and Limitations

Aider's approach focuses on:

• Git integration for version control
• File-focused operations (requires explicit /add commands)
• Dual-model system (main model for complex tasks, weaker model for simpler operations)

However, it shows its age compared to newer tools:

• Limited terminal control
• Less intuitive workflow
• Potential security concerns with file access

The JSON Merge Test

The standard test merging two JSON files with special handling for image fields revealed:

1. Initial directory confusion due to git repository scanning
2. Clear file management through the /add command system
3. Successful merge with proper git commit tracking

{ "cities": [ { "id": "London", "text": "London is the capital and largest city in Great Britain", "image": "BigBen" } ] }

Conclusion

While Aider pioneered the agentic CLI space, it now feels outdated compared to modern alternatives. The review notes:

• Git integration is efficient but feels "anti-vibe"
• Interface lacks polish compared to tools like Warp
• Open-source nature means potential for improvement

As the author concludes: "At this point Aider feels like bringing a knife to a gun fight" against more sophisticated modern alternatives.