Aider vs OpenHands

Aider

Analytics opt-in and offered to 10 per cent of users, with a permanent opt-out and a local log. No release since 0.86.2 on 12 February 2026 and no commit since 22 May 2026.

OpenHands

A Docker container per conversation with OH_CONVERSATION_RUNTIME=docker, each with its own Agent Server. Confirmation mode is off by default in Agent Canvas, and the npm install gives the agent the host's whole filesystem.

Aider

1. Read .aider.conf.yml in any cloned repository before starting aider. Its test-cmd and lint-cmd run without asking
2. Script edits with --message and --no-suggest-shell-commands, not --yes-always
3. Use Python 3.12 or earlier for the PyPI release
4. Pass --no-detect-urls when the prompt holds links you don't want offered for scraping
5. Check git log after a run. Each edit is its own commit

OpenHands

1. Set AGENT_CANVAS_DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1 and DO_NOT_TRACK=1 before the first start
2. Start Canvas with OH_CONVERSATION_RUNTIME=docker or use the Docker image. The npm install runs the agent on the host
3. Turn on confirmation mode with a risk threshold. Canvas starts with it off
4. Use the SDK or the Agent Server API for headless runs. The openhands --headless CLI is no longer maintained
5. Set filter_tools_regex on the agent to keep unneeded MCP tool definitions out of the context