# Aider Watch Mode — Auto-Edit on `# AI:` Comments

> Aider Watch Mode tails files and edits when you save an `# AI:` comment. Trigger Aider from VS Code, vim, Cursor, Claude Code without terminal switch.

## Install

Copy the content below into your project:

## Quick Use

1. Already have Aider installed? Start it with `aider --watch-files`
2. Open any tracked file in your editor
3. Add `# AI: <your instruction>` and save — Aider edits and commits

---

## Intro

Aider Watch Mode lets you trigger Aider from inside your editor without switching to a terminal. Add `# AI: <instruction>` (or `// AI:` for JS/TS) anywhere in a file and save — Aider notices, edits the file, removes the comment, and commits. Best for: developers who don't want to leave VS Code / vim / Cursor / Claude Code to invoke an AI edit. Works with: Aider 0.50+, any editor that saves files. Setup time: 1 minute.

---

### Start watch mode

```bash
# In your repo
aider --watch-files

# Or set in .aider.conf.yml
echo "watch-files: true" >> .aider.conf.yml
aider
```

Aider stays running and watches all tracked files.

### Trigger an edit

In any file, add an AI comment:

```python
# main.py
def fetch_user(user_id: int):
    # AI: add caching with functools.lru_cache, max 1000 entries
    return db.users.find_one({"_id": user_id})
```

Save the file. Aider:
1. Detects the AI comment
2. Reads the file (and any other files relevant)
3. Edits the function and removes the AI comment
4. Auto-commits with a generated message

Result:

```python
# main.py
from functools import lru_cache

@lru_cache(maxsize=1000)
def fetch_user(user_id: int):
    return db.users.find_one({"_id": user_id})
```

### Multi-file via cross-references

```python
# models.py
class User:
    # AI! add a 'plan' field with type Literal["free", "pro"], default "free"
    name: str
    email: str
```

The `AI!` (with bang) tells Aider to act immediately even without a save trigger. Aider also updates `tests/test_models.py` if it imports User.

### Bang variants

| Marker | Behavior |
|---|---|
| `# AI: <instruction>` | Edit on next save |
| `# AI! <instruction>` | Edit immediately |
| `# AI?` | Ask Aider a question; reply in chat |

---

### FAQ

**Q: Does watch mode work in any editor?**
A: Yes — watch mode tails files at the filesystem level, so VS Code, vim, neovim, JetBrains, Cursor, even Claude Code's internal edits all trigger it. The editor doesn't matter.

**Q: Will it edit files I didn't ask it to?**
A: Only files you've /add'd to Aider's session, or the file containing the AI comment. Files in `no-edit` are protected. Aider also asks before destructive operations (deleting, renaming) by default.

**Q: Can I disable auto-commits in watch mode?**
A: Yes — `auto-commits: false` in your config. Aider still edits the files but leaves the changes uncommitted for you to review and commit manually.

---

## Source & Thanks

> Built by [Paul Gauthier](https://github.com/paul-gauthier) and the Aider community. Watch mode shipped in Aider 0.50.
>
> [Aider-AI/aider](https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider) — ⭐ 36,000+

---

<!-- ZH -->

## 快速使用

1. 已经装了 Aider？用 `aider --watch-files` 启动
2. 在编辑器打开任何 tracked 文件
3. 加一行 `# AI: <你的指令>` 并保存，Aider 自己编辑并 commit

---

## 简介

Aider Watch Mode 让你不用切终端就能从编辑器里触发 Aider。在文件任何地方加 `# AI: <指令>`（JS/TS 用 `// AI:`）然后保存 —— Aider 监听到、编辑文件、删掉注释、commit。适合不想离开 VS Code / vim / Cursor / Claude Code 去触发 AI 编辑的开发者。需要 Aider 0.50+ 和任何能保存文件的编辑器。装机时间 1 分钟。

---

### 起 watch 模式

```bash
# 在仓库里
aider --watch-files

# 或者写进 .aider.conf.yml
echo "watch-files: true" >> .aider.conf.yml
aider
```

Aider 保持运行，监听所有 tracked 文件。

### 触发编辑

在任何文件里加 AI 注释：

```python
# main.py
def fetch_user(user_id: int):
    # AI: add caching with functools.lru_cache, max 1000 entries
    return db.users.find_one({"_id": user_id})
```

保存文件。Aider 会：
1. 检测到 AI 注释
2. 读这个文件（和相关文件）
3. 编辑函数、删掉 AI 注释
4. 自动 commit 带生成 message

结果：

```python
# main.py
from functools import lru_cache

@lru_cache(maxsize=1000)
def fetch_user(user_id: int):
    return db.users.find_one({"_id": user_id})
```

### 多文件交叉引用

```python
# models.py
class User:
    # AI! add a 'plan' field with type Literal["free", "pro"], default "free"
    name: str
    email: str
```

`AI!`（带感叹号）告诉 Aider 不等保存就立刻动手。如果 `tests/test_models.py` import 了 User，Aider 也会更新。

### 标记变体

| 标记 | 行为 |
|---|---|
| `# AI: <指令>` | 下次保存时编辑 |
| `# AI! <指令>` | 立刻编辑 |
| `# AI?` | 给 Aider 提问；在聊天里回复 |

---

### FAQ

**Q: watch 模式在任何编辑器都行吗？**
A: 行 —— watch 模式在文件系统层监听，所以 VS Code / vim / neovim / JetBrains / Cursor 甚至 Claude Code 的内部编辑都会触发。编辑器无所谓。

**Q: 会改我没让它改的文件吗？**
A: 只改你 /add 进 Aider 会话的文件、或者带 AI 注释的那个文件。`no-edit` 里的文件受保护。Aider 默认在破坏性操作（删除、重命名）前会问。

**Q: watch 模式能关掉自动 commit 吗？**
A: 能 —— 配置里设 `auto-commits: false`。Aider 仍然编辑文件，但不 commit，让你自己审完再提交。

---

## 来源与感谢

> Built by [Paul Gauthier](https://github.com/paul-gauthier) and the Aider community. Watch mode shipped in Aider 0.50.
>
> [Aider-AI/aider](https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider) — ⭐ 36,000+


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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/aider-watch-mode-auto-edit-on-ai-comments
Author: Aider