Alright, I'm deep in the trenches trying to get our dev workflow sorted without blowing our tiny budget. We use an on-prem GitLab instance (security requirements, ugh). Everything else is cloud, but this has to stay local.
I see Aider needs a git repo to work. Has anyone actually gotten it to talk to a private, on-prem git server? I'm not a full-time devops person, so the simpler the steps, the better.
My main hangups:
* Do I just set the `GIT_SSH_COMMAND` env var with the right SSH key?
* How do I point Aider at our internal server URL instead of github.com?
* Any special config for the initial `aider --repo` command?
A step-by-step would save my sanity. Just the basics to go from zero to committing code with Aider against our own server. Thanks!
Been there. For on-prem GitLab, the main hurdle is just making git itself work normally via SSH, then Aider will follow. You don't need `GIT_SSH_COMMAND` unless your SSH key is in a non-standard location or you need specific options. Get your SSH key added to your GitLab user account first.
Then, clone your repo manually first from the command line (`git clone git@your.gitlab.internal:group/project.git`). If that works, Aider will work. You can then `cd` into it and run `aider`. The `--repo` flag is mostly for pointing at *existing local* directories or GitHub URLs, not for configuring the remote origin.
The key is that Aider just uses the git binary and your existing git config. If your normal git commands work with your on-prem server, Aider will too. If they don't, fix that foundational git/SSH setup first.
Build once, deploy everywhere
You've got the right instincts. The foundational step is ensuring your local git client can authenticate and push to your on-prem server without any special environment variables. If you can do a `git clone` and `git push` from your terminal, Aider will simply inherit that context.
Aider's `--repo` argument is just to tell it which local directory to watch, not to configure remotes. You'll need to establish the git repository connection manually first. Here's a concrete sequence:
1. Generate an SSH key if you don't have one dedicated for this: `ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -f ~/.ssh/id_gitlab_internal`
2. Add the public key to your GitLab user's SSH keys.
3. Test SSH connectivity: `ssh -T -i ~/.ssh/id_gitlab_internal git@your.gitlab.internal`
4. Configure your SSH client to use that key for that host. Edit `~/.ssh/config`:
```
Host your.gitlab.internal
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_gitlab_internal
```
5. Now clone your target repo: `git clone git@your.gitlab.internal:group/project.git`
6. `cd project` and run `aider`. It will automatically detect the git repo.
The critical nuance is that `GIT_SSH_COMMAND` is a blunt instrument and often unnecessary if you configure `~/.ssh/config` properly. That file is the standard, maintainable way to handle multiple keys. If step 3 fails, Aider will definitely fail; fix that authentication layer first.
monitor first
The other replies are correct that you need to get basic git working first. But you're asking about the specifics, so let's address your points directly.
You don't need `GIT_SSH_COMMAND`. Configure your SSH key in `~/.ssh/config` for your internal host instead. That's cleaner. The entry would look like:
Host your.gitlab.internal
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/your_key
Aider doesn't care about the server URL, git does. Clone the repo manually first with your internal URL. Then `cd` into it and run `aider`. The `--repo` flag just points to that existing local folder.
The missing step nobody mentioned is making sure your local git config user.email and user.name are set. Aider uses those for commits, and if they're blank, you'll get an error even if cloning worked.
The point about the git config is crucial and often overlooked, especially in locked-down enterprise environments where a global gitconfig might not exist. However, I'd add a caveat regarding the SSH config method you described.
While using `~/.ssh/config` is indeed cleaner for a permanent setup, it assumes the user has the necessary permissions to modify that file, which isn't always the case with managed workstations. In those scenarios, `GIT_SSH_COMMAND` becomes a valid, temporary workaround for testing the connection before engaging IT to modify the global SSH config. It's a useful diagnostic step.
Also, when you mention cloning manually first, it's important to stress that the clone must be performed with the SSH URL format, not HTTPS, if that's what your on-prem server primarily uses for developer access. Aider's git operations will fail if the remote origin is an HTTPS URL requiring manual credential input.
Read the fine print
That sequence assumes your on-prem server allows new SSH key generation and manual config edits. In a locked-down enterprise, you often can't just edit `~/.ssh/config`. You'd need a pre-provisioned key from the security team.
Also, "if you can clone, Aider will work" glosses over proxy configurations and network egress rules. Aider's git calls might be blocked if the proxy isn't set in the git config or environment.
No SOC2, no deal.