Aider setup with Thalam
Install Aider, export your Thalam API key into OPENAI_API_KEY, and ship in under a minute. Run Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, Qwen and more from the terminal with one API key and Aider's edit-and-commit workflow.
Setup — environment variables
Easiest path: set two env vars and run Aider with a model id prefixed with openai/. The prefix tells Aider to call THALAM as an OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
# Mac / Linux
export OPENAI_API_BASE="https://api.thalam.ai/v1"
export OPENAI_API_KEY="tl-live-..."
# Then run aider with the openai/ prefix on your model id
aider --model openai/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6Browse model ids on the (format is openai/<provider>/<model> for Aider — the openai/ prefix is Aider-specific, the rest is the THALAM model id). On Windows use setx instead of export and restart your shell.
Setup — config file (optional)
Prefer a checked-in config? Drop the snippet below into .aider.conf.yml at the project root or in your home directory.
# .aider.conf.yml (project root or ~/.aider.conf.yml)
openai-api-base: https://api.thalam.ai/v1
openai-api-key: tl-live-...
model: openai/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6Project-level .aider.conf.yml takes precedence over the home-directory file, so you can run different models per repository without touching env vars. A .env file (with AIDER_OPENAI_API_BASE and AIDER_OPENAI_API_KEY) is a third equivalent option.
Verify it works
After running aider, type into the prompt:
Common gotchas
Three issues that account for almost every "it didn't work" report.
"Unknown model"
You forgot the openai/ prefix on the model id. Aider routes through LiteLLM and uses the prefix to choose the call shape. Use openai/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6, not anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6.
Calls go to OpenAI
OPENAI_API_BASE isn't actually set in the shell where Aider runs. Re-export in the same terminal session, or move the values into .aider.conf.yml so they apply on every run.
401 unauthorized
Key is missing the tl-live- prefix or has stray whitespace from a paste. Re-copy from the THALAM dashboard and paste with echo $OPENAI_API_KEY to confirm.
Why use THALAM with Aider
Aider runs in the terminal and works by sending diffs to a model. Cheap fast models for routine edits, flagships for hard refactors — Aider has the /model command to switch live; THALAM keeps every option behind one key.
Switch models live
Type /model openai/<provider>/<model> in Aider's prompt to switch upstream mid-session. No re-auth, no restart.
Cheap routine edits
Use DeepSeek V3.2 or Qwen3 for diff-style edits and reserve Claude / GPT for the hard architectural questions. Same Aider workflow.
Pay per token
No subscription, no minimums. To swap THALAM out, change OPENAI_API_BASE — Aider doesn't care.
CI / scripted use
Same env vars work in CI runners and bash scripts. Aider in CI for autonomous chores (changelog updates, dependency bumps) is straightforward with one OPENAI_API_BASE.
Frequently asked questions
What developers ask before wiring Thalam into Aider.
Do I need an API key to use Aider with Thalam?
?
Yes. Aider reads its API key from the OPENAI_API_KEY environment variable (or the openai-api-key field in .aider.conf.yml). To route Aider through Thalam, create a free Thalam account, copy your API key from the dashboard, and export it as OPENAI_API_KEY. No credit card required to create the key — you only pay when you make requests.
How do I install Aider and connect it to Thalam?
?
Three steps. (1) Install Aider with pip: python -m pip install aider-install && aider-install (full instructions at aider.chat/docs/install.html). (2) Sign up at thalam.ai and copy your tl-live-... key. (3) Export OPENAI_API_BASE=https://api.thalam.ai/v1 and OPENAI_API_KEY=tl-live-... in your shell, then run aider --model openai/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 (the openai/ prefix tells Aider to use the OpenAI-compatible call shape).
Is Thalam OpenAI-compatible?
?
Yes. Thalam exposes an OpenAI-compatible base URL at https://api.thalam.ai/v1, which is exactly what Aider expects when OPENAI_API_BASE is set. Every model Thalam routes to (Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen and more) is reachable through the same OpenAI Chat Completions interface — just prefix the model id with openai/ on the Aider side.
Can I use Thalam with Aider on Mac and Windows?
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Both, plus Linux. Aider runs in any Python 3.9+ environment. On Mac/Linux use export OPENAI_API_BASE=...; on Windows use setx OPENAI_API_BASE=... and restart your shell, or drop the values into .aider.conf.yml (works identically on every platform).
Can I switch models without changing my code?
?
Yes. Type /model openai/<provider>/<model> inside Aider's prompt to switch upstream mid-session, or pass --model openai/<provider>/<model> on launch. Switching between Claude, GPT, DeepSeek or any other Thalam-routed model is a config change, not a code change — Aider keeps its edit-and-commit workflow identical.
Plug in. Pick a model. Ship.
Get an API key in under a minute. No credit card required.