muxd vs Aider: How They Compare

If you're exploring AI pair programming tools, Aider is probably on your shortlist. It's a well-regarded, open source Python tool that brings LLM-powered coding directly into your terminal. It's smart about git, supports multiple models, and has a loyal following. So why consider muxd as an Aider alternative?

This isn't a takedown. Both tools are open source, both support multiple providers, and both let you code with AI from the terminal. But they differ in architecture, and that shapes everything else.

The Core Difference

Aider is a per-session chat tool. You start it, work with it, and when you close the terminal, the session is gone. It's designed around a tight feedback loop: you talk, it edits, it commits. Simple and effective for focused pairing sessions.

muxd is a background daemon. It runs as a persistent service that survives terminal closes, SSH disconnects, and reboots. Sessions are stored in a local SQLite database with full branching and forking. You can disconnect, reconnect from another terminal, or check in from your phone via Telegram. It's AI pair programming that doesn't require you to stay seated.

Feature Comparison

When to Choose muxd

You run long tasks and walk away

Aider assumes you're watching. muxd doesn't. The daemon architecture means you can kick off a refactor, close your laptop, and check the results later -- from any terminal or from Telegram on your phone. Sessions persist in SQLite, so nothing is lost.

You want real undo, not just git revert

Both tools are git-aware, but muxd takes it further. Automatic checkpoints on every agent turn give you /undo and /redo commands that move cleanly between states. No hunting through commit history or running manual reverts.

You need session branching

Hit a fork in the road? muxd lets you branch a conversation -- try one approach, then go back and try another without losing either thread. Aider's history is linear; once you move on, the old context is gone.

You want parallel execution

muxd's sub-agent system can spin up parallel subtasks for independent pieces of work. Aider processes requests sequentially in a single conversation thread.

When to Choose Aider

You want a lightweight pairing tool

Aider is focused and minimal. If your workflow is "open terminal, pair with AI, close terminal," its per-session design is a feature, not a limitation. Less infrastructure, less to think about.

You value repo maps

Aider's repo map feature builds a structured understanding of your codebase and sends relevant context to the model automatically. It's a well-tuned approach to the context problem that works especially well for navigating unfamiliar codebases.

You prefer Python tooling

Aider is a Python package. If your environment is Python-heavy and you want to install via pip, Aider fits right in. muxd is a standalone binary with its own install path.

You want a mature editing workflow

Aider has refined its file-editing approach over many iterations, with specific edit formats tuned for different models. If tight, reliable edits are your primary concern, Aider's focused approach delivers.

Try It Yourself

Both tools are open source and free to install. Give muxd a spin:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/batalabs/muxd/main/install.sh | bash

The getting started guide will have you running in under a minute. Point it at the same project you use with Aider and see which workflow fits better. The best muxd vs Aider comparison is the one you run on your own codebase.