Connect Aider to NinjaTrader 8
Popular git-aware CLI coding agent. No native MCP client — pair with a sibling MCP host or use the aider-mcp-server bridge.
Aider calling CrossTrade MCP tools against a live NinjaTrader 8 account. Run this yourself in 5 minutes →
Why pair Aider with CrossTrade MCP
Important: Aider does NOT ship a native MCP client (tracked at issue #4506). To use CrossTrade with Aider, run Aider in parallel with Claude Code / OpenCode for the MCP work, OR expose Aider via aider-mcp-server so another MCP host can call Aider as a tool.
No native MCP client. Use a sibling MCP host (Claude Code, OpenCode) or aider-mcp-server bridge. What this combination unlocks
Inverse pattern
aider-mcp-server exposes Aider as a tool callable from any MCP host.
Git-first
Every successful change auto-committed.
The connection chain
Aider │ OAuth-authorized tool call ▼ CrossTrade hosted MCP server (https://app.crosstrade.io/v1/api/mcp) │ ▼ CrossTrade Add-On running inside NT8 on your PC │ ▼ NinjaTrader 8
One URL, one consent screen, one read-only first prompt. The MCP server is hosted by CrossTrade; you don't run anything beyond NT8 + the CrossTrade Add-On.
Ready to set up Aider?
The full step-by-step setup lives on a dedicated page. Verified against Aider AI's current docs.
Copy-paste prompts that work today
Also consider
Common questions
Is Aider a good fit for trading?
Aider is excellent at git-aware refactoring but does not currently ship a native MCP client. For CrossTrade tool calls, pair Aider with a sibling MCP-capable host (Claude Code, OpenCode, Cursor), or use the community aider-mcp-server bridge to call Aider from another MCP host.
Do I need Aider, or will Claude Code / OpenCode work alone?
Claude Code and OpenCode handle both editing AND MCP tool calls, so they're complete on their own. Add Aider only if its git-first, fast-edit style fits your workflow and you want it alongside an MCP tool. Most traders don't need this combo.
When will Aider support MCP natively?
Tracked at Aider-AI/aider issue #4506. No committed timeline. Watch the issue or check Aider release notes.
What is the aider-mcp-server bridge?
A community project (disler/aider-mcp-server) that exposes Aider as an MCP tool — the inverse of what most people want. Run Claude Code / Cursor / OpenCode with both CrossTrade AND aider-mcp-server attached, and the agent can ask Aider to edit files as a tool. Niche but useful.
Cost?
Apache-2.0 open source, free. You pay the model provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, etc.) for the LLM that drives Aider. Sometimes pennies per session.
Aider vs Claude Code / OpenCode for NinjaScript?
Claude Code and OpenCode have native MCP, so they can call CrossTrade's CompileNinjaScript directly. Aider can't. If your NinjaScript work needs compile + backtest in the same session, use Claude Code or OpenCode. Aider is better for pure file editing.
Mac, Windows, and Linux?
All three. Install via pip, uv, pipx, or curl. Python 3.10+ recommended.
Which model should I run with Aider for trading code?
Claude (Sonnet or Opus) for NinjaScript quality. GPT-4.1 for strict tool-following. DeepSeek for cost. But again — Aider isn't doing MCP work, so model choice affects code quality, not trading reliability.
Connect Aider to NinjaTrader 8 in 5 minutes
Free Sim101 walkthrough. Read-only first. Upgrade scope only when a real workflow needs it.
