What is Kiro IDE?
Kiro is an AI-powered, agentic Integrated Development Environment (IDE) developed by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to streamline software development from prototyping to production. Built on the open-source Code OSS (the foundation of Visual Studio Code), Kiro introduces a specification-driven development approach, leveraging AI agents to enhance productivity, maintain code quality, and ensure alignment between project requirements and implementation.
Overview
Kiro bridges the gap between rapid prototyping (“vibe coding”) and production-ready systems by acting as an intelligent partner that understands project context, generates structured specifications, and automates repetitive tasks. It addresses challenges like misaligned requirements, technical debt, and outdated documentation.
Key Features
Spec-Driven Development
Transforms prompts into detailed specs including:
- User stories & acceptance criteria
- Data flow diagrams
- TypeScript interfaces
- API endpoints
Example: “Add a review system” generates complete implementation plan.
Agent Hooks
Event-driven automations that:
- Update docs on file save
- Run tests automatically
- Optimize code
- Perform security scans
Multimodal Input
Processes multiple input types:
- Natural language chat
- Figma designs (screenshots)
- Database schemas
- Project context
MCP Integration
Connects to external services:
- Databases
- APIs
- AWS services
- Development tools
Kiro’s 3-Phase Workflow
1. Requirement Unpacking
Natural language prompts → User stories → Acceptance criteria
2. Technical Design
Architecture plans → Data flow diagrams → Interfaces
3. Implementation
Task breakdown → Automated coding → Testing → Docs
How Kiro Compares
| Feature | Kiro | GitHub Copilot | Cursor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Spec-driven, agentic | Autocomplete | Exploratory |
| Scope | Full project context | Single file | Multi-file |
| Automation | Multi-step tasks | Line suggestions | Code blocks |
| Best For | Production systems | Quick coding | Experimentation |
Pricing & Availability
Preview
FREE
50 agentic interactions/month
Pro
$19/month
1,000 interactions
Pro+
$39/month
3,000 interactions
Additional interactions: $0.04 each. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux.
Example Use Cases
Secure File-Sharing App
Built with encryption in 2 days using Kiro’s automated workflows.
E-Commerce Review System
Complete with rating algorithms, authentication, and responsive design.
AWS Infrastructure
Automated Lambda functions and DynamoDB schemas generation.
Technical Details
AI Models
- Claude Sonnet 4.0
- Claude Sonnet 3.7
- Via AWS Bedrock
Supported Tech
- TypeScript/JavaScript
- Python, Java
- React, Node.js
- Prisma, Jest
Modes
- Autopilot: Full automation
- Supervised: Approve changes
Ready to Try Kiro?
Download the preview version today and experience the future of AI-assisted development
Download Kiro IDE