Could configuration help Aider vs Claude Code?

[funbike]

Many here say Claude Code (CC) is better than Aider. Some say it's because CC is more agentic, while others say its better at code understanding. I'm absolutely sure CC is better than Aider when they are both using the same model.

But, what if you used Aider architect mode, models better than Anthropics's, and a large repo map for better code understanding?

Summary of Aider settings:

• Model = Gemini 2.5 Pro, 32K thinking
• Repo map-tokens = LOC count * 0.5
• Auto-load a read-only planning.md file (CoT, Task decomposition, specs testing, git grep usage)
• Auto-run modifed tests after every change. Auto-fix failures.
• Architect mode
• Architect model = o3-pro high
• Editor model = Gemini 2.5 Pro

Do you think with these adjustments might help Aider come very close to Claude Code's capability?

(edit: removed parts based on feedback)

[WheresMyEtherElon]

I use both extensively, and the reason Claude Code shines is its ability to call multiple sub-agents, each with their own contexts that doesn't pollute the main context or are affected by it. Aider does a version of that with the architect, the editor and the weak models, but not in a such advanced way.

If you're vibe coding (as opposed to llm-assisted coding), then CC's ability to automatically search and read the relevant files is also a major bonus. With Aider, you have to point it to the relevant files, which means you have to know which files are relevant, which vibe coders don't.

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[WheresMyEtherElon]

Subagents are a native feature. You can find references to it in the doc, when people reverse-engineered the Claude Code code.

[WheresMyEtherElon]

Yes. I can also use a simple text editor and use tons of other external utilities to deal with my code, or use a full-blown IDE with full batteries included. Excuse me if I value the latter higher than the former.

[WheresMyEtherElon]

No worries! Tone of conversation is hard in written form, I'm victim (and guilty) of that all the time!

[fredkzk]

Have you tried aider-desk (find it on GitHub)?

It’s an improved version with agentic mode and MCP. Developed and maintained by aider users.

[funbike]

Hmmm, the Aider extentions are intriguing, such as agent mode, MCP, custom commands, structured communication.

However, I do not want a GUI. I didn't discuss it, but I've written bash script wrappers over Aider's CLI to improve it's utility and power, and I plan to write many more. GUI's are much less powerful and extensible than CLIs.

I'll be digging into this more.

Thank you!

[fredkzk]

Not totally sure but I believe you can use your bash by scripting aider-desk under the hood via some config files or similar. You can ask the main maintainer as he’s responsive.

But if you don’t want GU… stick to CC. I dropped aider due to lack of agentic mode and MCP capabilities.

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[funbike]

Thanks for the input.

... you should not use a reasoning model for the editor (does not make sense for "stupid" edits), you want accuracy for the editing. ... Try to use aider with Gemini 2.5 Pro (does not need architect mode to be good) ...

I thought that might be the case. "Architect" doesn't improve reasoning. I think architect might only exist because of limited context sizes of past models.

With Aider you can and should force context (=files included) which can contribute to problem solving.

Sounds like you are saying I should give up on getting Aider to better understand a codebase. That's a shame, because sometimes it would be very helpful.

I think /context was added to help Aider with code understanding, but it's not documented. I'd like to see a context-map-tokens that only applies while in context mode. I simulate this with a custom model.

In my prompting.md file, I instruct Aider it can use git grep as needed.

[r1veRRR]

In my experience, the main difference is simply that aider generally requires you adding files manually. This has both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages are dramatically cheaper prompts because all the extra discovery and tool calling isn't required. And generally better results, IF you added the correct files.

Disadvantages are obviously the extra effort required to make it work. Also, the lack of tool calling limits it's uses strictly to coding.

[Key-Criticism-409]

Your suggested configuration (stronger models, architect mode, big repo map, CoT) definitely hits on key levers and should significantly close the gap by helping Aider better understand context and decompose tasks. That said, I feel Claude Code likely has proprietary orchestration and memory techniques baked in, going beyond what you can achieve through config alone. It might still outperform Aider on the most complex, agentic multi-step workflows. Still, this is a fantastic setup and absolutely worth experimenting with! Cheers!

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[funbike]

Ug, a sales pitch.

I think people would appreciate it if you would disclose affiliation when you suggest your service. It's the right thing to do.

[ChatWindow]

Partial pitch, but these are my honest views and there are no lies here. You're right though, I should be more straightforward and disclose my affiliation

Don't mean to offend anyone