Build Your Own AI Coding Assistant with Aider and Ollama Cloud
Learn how to set up a personal AI coding assistant using Aider and Ollama. Combine local and cloud AI models for powerful, flexible coding automation on Linux.
Looking for a free, private AI coding assistant that integrates with your workflow? Combine Aider and Ollama to build your own AI pair programmer that works locally or in the cloud — no subscriptions, full control, and perfect for automation or network engineering tasks.
🚀 Why Use Aider with Ollama?
- Aider: Chat directly with your Git repo. It writes, edits, and commits code automatically.
- Ollama: Runs AI models locally or connects to cloud-hosted models for bigger workloads.
Together, they give you the flexibility of local processing with the power of cloud AI, ideal for developers and network engineers working on Python, DevOps, or automation scripts.
⚙️ Quick Installation Guide
Install Aider
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python -m pip install aider-install
aider-install
Install Ollama
Download from ollama.com and start it:
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ollama serve
Pull AI Models
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ollama pull qwen2.5-coder # Local model
ollama pull qwen3-coder:480b-cloud # Cloud model
During setup of Ollama Cloud models, if you get any error, see: https://ollama.com/blog/cloud-models
Set Ollama API
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export OLLAMA_API_BASE=http://127.0.0.1:11434 # Mac/Linux
setx OLLAMA_API_BASE http://127.0.0.1:11434 # Windows, restart shell after setx
Run Aider with Cloud Model
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aider --model ollama_chat/qwen3-coder:480b-cloud # Use ollama_chat instead of ollama
💡 Example: Generate a Python Script
Ask Aider:
“Create a Python script using Netmiko to check Cisco interface status.”
Aider writes the script, commits it to Git, and you can run it instantly:
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python interface_check.py
Perfect for network automation and device configuration tasks.
🧠 Essential Aider Commands
/add <file>– Add a file to context/undo– Undo the last change/diff– View recent edits/run <cmd>– Run shell commands
These make Aider a smart, terminal-based coding companion.
🧩 Tips for Network Engineers
- Use local AI models for sensitive or offline work.
- Use cloud models for large scripts or complex logic.
- Be specific in prompts — clear instructions yield cleaner code.
- Set up a bash alias for different models
🔚 Final Thoughts
The Aider + Ollama combo gives you:
- Privacy with local models
- Power with cloud-based AI
- Zero vendor lock-in
Build your own AI coding assistant that grows with your skills — perfect for developers, DevOps, and network automation professionals.