How do I always load conventions in Aider?

Add read: CONVENTIONS.md or read: [CONVENTIONS.md, AGENTS.md] to .aider.conf.yml. Aider loads that file from your home directory, the repo root, and the current directory, with later files taking priority. You can also pass aider --read CONVENTIONS.md for a single session.

Fix

Aider CONVENTIONS.md vs AGENTS.md

Answer

Aider does not auto-discover CONVENTIONS.md or AGENTS.md. Create a Markdown conventions file and load it with aider --read CONVENTIONS.md or /read CONVENTIONS.md so it is read-only and prompt-cached. To load it every session, set read: CONVENTIONS.md (or read: [CONVENTIONS.md, AGENTS.md]) in .aider.conf.yml. Every Loadout free zip ships AGENTS.md at the project root; point Aider at that file or copy its text into CONVENTIONS.md.

Scope Tool-agnostic. Written against Cursor project rules (.mdc), Claude Code CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, and GitHub Copilot repository instructions as documented on 2026-10-15.

Last verified 2026-10-15

The Vibe Coder Starter pack ships AGENTS.md at the project root. Aider will not pick that file up unless you load it. Its pinned scope is: Tool-agnostic. Written against Cursor project rules (.mdc), Claude Code CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, and GitHub Copilot repository instructions as documented on 2026-10-15. Codex discovery is /fixes/codex-cli-agents-md. Claude Code is /fixes/claude-code-claude-md-vs-agents-md. Cursor is /fixes/cursor-rule-sources-and-precedence.

Aider's conventions page says the easiest way to give the model coding guidelines is a small Markdown file in the chat. Name it CONVENTIONS.md if you like, or use any Markdown path. Prefer aider --read CONVENTIONS.md or the in-chat /read CONVENTIONS.md command so the file is marked read-only and cached when prompt caching is on. Community convention files live in the Aider-AI/conventions repository. Checked against https://aider.chat/docs/usage/conventions.html.

To load conventions on every run, put them in .aider.conf.yml. Aider looks for that file in your home directory, the git repo root, and the current directory, in that order; later files win. Set read: CONVENTIONS.md alone, or read: [CONVENTIONS.md, AGENTS.md] for multiple files. Lists can also be YAML bullets under read:. The config docs cover the same read key. Aider does not document automatic discovery of AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, .cursor/rules, or .github/copilot-instructions.md. Those paths work only when you --read them or list them under read:. Checked against https://aider.chat/docs/config/aider_conf.html.

Every Loadout free zip includes AGENTS.md at the project root, plus CLAUDE.md, .cursor/rules/<slug>.mdc, and .github/copilot-instructions.md. The packs are /packs/vibe-coder-starter, /packs/nextjs-supabase, /packs/unity-6, and /packs/godot-4. None of them ships CONVENTIONS.md or .aider.conf.yml. For Aider, copy AGENTS.md to the repo root and run aider --read AGENTS.md, or add read: AGENTS.md to .aider.conf.yml. Keep shared guidance in AGENTS.md so Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, and Aider stay aligned.

Last verified 2026-10-15. doc-verified.

Pro

Unity 6, Godot 4, and Next.js Pro rules, $1+

$1+ · pay what you want

Advanced rules for the same stacks as the free packs: Unity 6 Pro (Netcode, URP, Addressables, tests), Godot 4 Pro (multiplayer, GDExtension and C#, saves, export), and Next.js 16 + Supabase Pro (RLS, getClaims, Stripe webhooks, caching). Each pack is AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, Cursor .mdc, and Copilot instructions. The Phaser 4, three.js, and FastAPI packs stay on the Gumroad download as a bonus. 12 months of free updates.

Each pack ships as AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, Cursor .mdc, and Copilot instructions, with 12 months of free updates.

From the Unity 6 Pro rules

Mark an RPC with `[Rpc(SendTo.Server)]` and end the method name in `Rpc`. A missing `Rpc` suffix is an error. Do not write new `[ServerRpc]` or `[ClientRpc]` methods.
A client asks the server with `SendTo.Server`. The server talks to observers with `SendTo.NotServer`, or `SendTo.ClientsAndHost` when a host must run the method too. There is no direct client-to-client connection. The server forwards it.
Keep shared state on a `NetworkVariable<T>` and use `.Value`. It is sent to clients already connected and to a client that joins later. An RPC is not. Write `.Value` from the server when write permission is `NetworkVariableWritePermission.Server`.
Put a `NetworkObject` on the networked prefab and spawn it on the server. Do not use the removed UNet types `NetworkIdentity`, `[Command]`, or `UnityEngine.Networking`.

Unity 6, Godot 4, and Next.js Pro rules, $1+

Vibe Coder Starter pack — Safe defaults for any AI coding agent, in any stack.

doc-verified

Sources in the pack

Docs

Questions

Does Aider auto-load CONVENTIONS.md or AGENTS.md?: Aider does not auto-discover CONVENTIONS.md or AGENTS.md. Create a Markdown conventions file and load it with aider --read CONVENTIONS.md or /read CONVENTIONS.md so it is read-only and prompt-cached. To load it every session, set read: CONVENTIONS.md (or read: [CONVENTIONS.md, AGENTS.md]) in .aider.conf.yml. Every Loadout free zip ships AGENTS.md at the project root; point Aider at that file or copy its text into CONVENTIONS.md.
How do I always load conventions in Aider?: Add read: CONVENTIONS.md or read: [CONVENTIONS.md, AGENTS.md] to .aider.conf.yml. Aider loads that file from your home directory, the repo root, and the current directory, with later files taking priority. You can also pass aider --read CONVENTIONS.md for a single session.
Do Loadout free packs ship CONVENTIONS.md or .aider.conf.yml?: No. They do not include CONVENTIONS.md or .aider.conf.yml. Every free zip includes AGENTS.md at the project root. The packs are /packs/vibe-coder-starter, /packs/nextjs-supabase, /packs/unity-6, and /packs/godot-4. Point Aider at AGENTS.md with --read or a read: entry in .aider.conf.yml.
When was this Aider CONVENTIONS.md rule last checked?: Last verified 2026-10-15. doc-verified.