Aider vs GooseComparisonUpdated 2026-03-16
SUMMARY
Aider (CLI) uses markdown configuration while Goose (CLI) uses text. They differ on 4 of 11 compared features. Both tools provide AI-assisted development but take different approaches to project configuration.
FEATURE COMPARISON
| Feature | Aider | Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Config format | markdown | text |
| Hierarchy support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Global config | ✓ | ✓ |
| Project config | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subdirectory scoping | ✓ | ✗ |
| File inclusion / imports | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ignore file | .aiderignore | ✗ |
| IDE integration | CLI | CLI |
| Schema / structure | Free-form (Markdown) | Free-form (Markdown) |
| Git committed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Encoding | UTF-8 | UTF-8 |
FILE MAPPING
| Purpose | Aider | Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Settings / configuration | .aider.conf.yml | config.yaml |
| Project instructions | CONVENTIONS.md | .goosehints |
SIDE-BY-SIDE CODE SAMPLES
Aider
CONVENTIONS.md
markdown
# Project Conventions
## Language
- TypeScript strict mode, no `any` types
- Prefer const over let, never use var
- Use template literals over string concatenation
## Architecture
- Feature-based folder structure under src/features/
- Each feature exports through an index.ts barrel file
- Shared utilities go in src/lib/
## Error Handling
- Use Result<T, E> pattern for expected failures
- Throw only for programmer errors
- Always log errors with structured context
## Testing
- Colocate tests next to source files (*.test.ts)
- Use factories for test data, not fixtures
- Integration tests in __tests__/ directories
Goose
.goosehints
text
This is a Ruby on Rails 7.2 application with Hotwire/Turbo.
Database: PostgreSQL 16
Ruby version: 3.3.x
Node: 22.x (for asset pipeline)
Key commands:
- bin/rails server — start dev server
- bin/rails test — run test suite
- bin/rails db:migrate — run migrations
Conventions:
- Use ViewComponents for reusable UI
- Stimulus controllers for JS behavior
- System tests with Capybara + Playwright
- RuboCop for linting (run: bundle exec rubocop)
KEY DIFFERENCES
Aider: markdown. Goose: text.
Aider: Not supported. Goose: Supported.
Aider: Supported. Goose: Not supported.
Aider: .aiderignore. Goose: Not supported.
WHICH SHOULD I USE?
Choose based on your IDE/CLI preference. If you use Aider, configure .aider.conf.yml. If you use Goose, configure config.yaml. Many projects include config files for multiple tools so each team member can use their preferred editor.
PORTABILITY TIP
sync-instructions.sh
bash
# Maintain a single source of truth:
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md CLAUDE.md
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md .cursorrules
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md AGENTS.md
SEE ALSO
File references:
agentconfig.ing2026-03-16COMPARE(1)