Kiro
Kiro is an agentic IDE that works alongside you from prototype to production.
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What is Kiro?
Kiro is an agentic IDE and command-line interface that helps developers go from prototype to production with spec-driven development, agent hooks, and natural language coding assistance. It bridges the gap from AI coding to engineering by managing intent, completing long-running tasks across large codebases, and validating code correctness with an agent that learns how you work. Kiro transforms natural language prompts into structured requirements, architectural designs, and discrete implementation tasks.
Key features include spec-driven development that turns prompts into clear requirements and acceptance criteria in EARS notation, architectural designs backed by best practices, and discrete tasks that map to requirements. Kiro offers advanced context management through steering files (workspace-specific or global markdown documents defining standards, architecture, and conventions), native MCP support for connecting to docs/databases/APIs, multimodal chat accepting UI design images, autopilot mode for autonomous task execution, intelligent error diagnostics, and real-time code diffs. It also supports agent hooks that trigger on events like file save to generate documentation, unit tests, or optimize code performance automatically.
Kiro is built for developers and teams who want to 10x their output, from startups and co-founders to principal cloud architects and senior software engineers. It supports VS Code compatibility with Open VSX plugins and themes, works with multiple programming languages, and is available as both a desktop application (Windows, macOS, Linux) and CLI tool. The tool is trusted by engineers worldwide for accelerating feature development, reducing time to customer value from weeks to days, and enabling parallel work in ways previously not possible.
Kiro pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Kiro offers four pricing tiers: Free tier with 50 credits/month, Pro at $20/month with 1,000 credits, Pro+ at $40/month with 2,000 credits, and Power at $200/month with 10,000 credits. New users receive 500 bonus credits on first sign-in valid for 14-30 days. Free tier includes access to open weight models (Qwen3 Coder Next, DeepSeek v3.2, MiniMax 2.1) and Claude Sonnet 4.5 with rate limits for social login/AWS Builder ID users. Paid plans include Claude Sonnet 4.5 and open weight models. Additional credits can be purchased at $0.04 per credit for paid plans with opt-in overage. Credits are consumed fractionally based on request complexity. First-time paid plan upgrades get $20 credited toward subscription with social login or Builder ID.
Kiro pros
- Spec-driven development transforms prompts into structured requirements with EARS notation
- Agent hooks automate tasks on file save, file created, or manual triggers
- Advanced context management with workspace-specific and global steering files
- Native MCP support connects to docs, databases, APIs, and remote services
- Multimodal chat accepts UI design images and architecture whiteboard photos
- Autopilot mode runs large tasks autonomously without step-by-step instructions
- Intelligent error diagnostics reads syntax, type, and semantic errors
- Real-time code diffs show changes as they happen with approval options
- Per-prompt credit usage visibility for spend control
- Compatible with VS Code including Open VSX plugins and themes
- Claude Sonnet 4.5 and Auto model options for reliable coding and cost balancing
- CLI access works locally or over SSH keeping you in flow
- Generate Git commit messages with single click from source control pane
- File references using @path syntax include file contents inline saving tokens
- Supports both desktop application and command-line interface
Kiro cons
- Free tier limited to 50 credits per month
- Binary files (images, executables, archives) not supported in file references
- File references limited to text files up to 250KB
- Directory trees limited to 3 levels deep with 10 items per level
- No glob patterns supported for file references like @*.ts
- No line ranges for file references like @file.ts:10-20
- No tilde expansion for paths like @~/file
- Overage charges at $0.04 per credit for paid plans require opt-in
- Large files truncated at 250KB limit
- Requires Docker Desktop for some power integrations like Supabase local
Frequently asked questions about Kiro
What is Kiro?
Kiro is an agentic IDE that helps you do your best work with features such as specs, steering, and hooks. It bridges the gap from AI coding to engineering by managing intent, completing long-running tasks across large codebases, and validating code correctness with an agent that learns how you work. Kiro transforms natural language prompts into structured requirements, architecture, and discrete implementation tasks.
What is spec-driven development and how is it different from vibe coding?
Spec-driven development transforms high-level feature ideas into detailed implementation plans through three phases: Requirements (user stories with acceptance criteria in EARS notation), Design (technical architecture and implementation approach), and Tasks (discrete, trackable implementation steps). Unlike vibe coding which generates code directly from prompts without structure, spec-driven development gives structure to the chaos before writing code, making intent and constraints explicit.
How can I get started with Kiro?
Download the Kiro desktop application from kiro.dev for macOS, Windows, or Linux, or install the CLI using curl -fsSL https://cli.kiro.dev/install | bash. Open your project using File > Open Folder, drag-drop the folder, or run kiro . from the command line. Generate steering docs from the Kiro panel, then create your first spec by clicking the Spec button and describing your feature in natural language.
What programming languages does Kiro support?
Kiro supports all programming languages since it works with any codebase. It is particularly effective with TypeScript, Python, Rust, and Terraform based on user testimonials. The tool understands your entire codebase regardless of language and can generate code, tests, and documentation for any tech stack you're using.
Can I import settings from my existing IDE?
Yes, Kiro supports VS Code settings, Open VSX plugins, and themes in a streamlined AI-ready environment. You can bring your existing VS Code configuration into Kiro, making the transition familiar while adding AI-powered features like specs, steering, hooks, and multimodal chat.
What is an AI agent in Kiro?
An AI agent in Kiro is an autonomous system that works alongside you to solve challenging problems and automate tasks. Agents can turn prompts into detailed specs, then into working code, docs, and tests. They execute long-running tasks across large codebases, fix bugs in minutes, iterate on features faster, and solve tough technical problems. Agents can run autonomously in autopilot mode or be triggered by agent hooks on events like file save.
What are steering files and how do they work?
Steering files are markdown documents that give Kiro persistent knowledge about your workspace through workspace-specific (.kiro/steering/) or global (~/.kiro/steering/) scopes. They define your standards, architecture, conventions, technology stack, and project structure. Kiro provides foundational steering files (product.md, tech.md, structure.md) and supports custom files with inclusion modes: always, fileMatch, manual, or auto. Workspace steering takes priority over global steering when there are conflicts.
How do agent hooks work?
Agent hooks automate tasks by triggering predefined actions when events occur like file created, saved, or deleted, manual triggers, or spec task events. You define hook behavior in natural language specifying the event type, file pattern (e.g., src/**/*.tsx), and instructions. Hooks can generate documentation, unit tests, or optimize code performance automatically in the background without you thinking about it.
What is MCP and how do I use it?
Model Context Protocol (MCP) allows Kiro to access specialized knowledge bases, documentation, external APIs, databases, and cloud services. Kiro ships with fetch MCP server by default. Configure MCP servers in the Kiro panel by editing the JSON file or asking Kiro to add servers. Use MCP tools by asking direct questions, referencing specific tools with #MCP, or combining with hooks and specs for automated workflows.
How are credits consumed and what affects usage?
Credits are consumed fractionally based on each request, with the minimum unit changed from 1 credit to 0.01 credit units. Simple edits and shorter prompts consume fewer credits while complex spec requests and long-running agent tasks consume more. Free tier gets 50 credits/month, Pro gets 1,000, Pro+ gets 2,000, and Power gets 10,000. Additional credits cost $0.04 each for paid plans with opt-in overage. You can see per-prompt credit usage in real-time in the IDE.