Aider Setup
Connect Aider to GonkaGate in a local repo.
Connect Aider to GonkaGate by exporting OPENAI_API_KEY, setting the GonkaGate base URL, and using openai/<model-id>.
Start one session first or save the same values in .aider.conf.yml, then verify the setup before real edits.
Start one Aider session
Export your GonkaGate key through OPENAI_API_KEY, then start Aider with the GonkaGate base URL and an openai/<model-id> value.
export OPENAI_API_KEY="gp-your-api-key"
cd /path/to/your/repo
aider \
--openai-api-base https://api.gonkagate.com/v1 \
--model openai/qwen/qwen3-235b-a22b-instruct-2507-fp8Replace the example model with a current ID from GET /v1/models.
Before you start
- Aider is already installed.
- You are working in a local project directory or git repo.
- You already have a GonkaGate API key in
gp-...format. - You need the narrow Aider setup path, not a broader migration or SDK walkthrough.
Save the setup in the repo
Use a repo-local config when the same project should always open Aider against GonkaGate.
Create .aider.conf.yml in the repo root:
model: openai/qwen/qwen3-235b-a22b-instruct-2507-fp8
openai-api-base: https://api.gonkagate.com/v1Then start Aider from that repo:
export OPENAI_API_KEY="gp-your-api-key"
cd /path/to/your/repo
aiderAider can load config from the current directory, the repo root, or your home directory. Prefer a repo-local config when GonkaGate should apply only to one project.
Aider-specific rules
- Keep the
openai/prefix in Aider model names. - The part after
openai/must match a current GonkaGate model ID. - Aider reads the API key from
OPENAI_API_KEY, so the key must be available in the shell where you launch Aider.
Verify inside your repo
Launch Aider from the repo you want to work on and send this prompt in chat:
Reply with exactly: Aider connected to GonkaGate
That confirms the endpoint, API key, and model path before you start real file edits.
Common first failures
| If you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
model not found | The openai/ prefix is missing or the model ID is stale | Keep the openai/ prefix and verify the model ID in GET /v1/models |
| Unknown context-window or token-cost warnings | Aider does not recognize the model metadata yet | The endpoint can still work, but validate the model before real edits |
401 invalid_api_key | The key is missing, invalid, or loaded in the wrong shell | Recheck OPENAI_API_KEY and Authentication and API Keys |
429 insufficient_quota | The prepaid USD balance is too low for this request | Check Pricing before retrying |
429 rate_limit_exceeded | The request was throttled | Retry with bounded backoff and use Rate Limit Handling for the full policy |
Official references
Last verified: 2026-03-13 against the official Aider OpenAI-compatible and configuration docs.
See also
- Framework and Tool Guides for a different wrapper or coding-tool path
- Authentication and API Keys for key storage, rotation, and auth troubleshooting
- Model Selection Guide for choosing a model before you lock it into Aider
- GET /v1/models to confirm the exact live model ID that Aider should use
