explaingit

kirodotdev/kiro

Analysis updated 2026-07-03

3,686TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5Setup · easy

TLDR

Kiro is an AI-powered code editor by Amazon that uses spec-driven development, you describe a feature as a structured plan, then Kiro breaks it into concrete tasks and helps write the code to fulfill it.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Spec-driven dev
      Code generation
      Agentic chat
    Key features
      Hooks automation
      Steering files
      Powers add-ons
    Connectivity
      MCP support
      VS Code import
    Platforms
      macOS
      Windows
      Linux
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Code map

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Write a spec describing a new feature, then let Kiro generate a step-by-step implementation plan and code for it.

USE CASE 2

Set up hooks that automatically run checks or tasks whenever you save files, cutting out repetitive manual steps.

USE CASE 3

Chat with Kiro in plain language to get code changes made while it tracks your full project context.

USE CASE 4

Add steering files with your project rules so Kiro always follows your team's coding standards and architecture.

What is it built with?

TypeScript

How does it compare?

kirodotdev/kirocallstack/haulbqplot/bqplot
Stars3,6863,6843,689
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScriptTypeScript
Setup difficultyeasymoderateeasy
Complexity3/53/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdata

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 30min

Downloaded from kiro.dev as a desktop or CLI app, this repository is documentation and issue tracking only.

In plain English

Kiro is an AI-assisted code editor and command-line tool built by Amazon. It is designed around the idea of spec-driven development, where instead of jumping straight into writing code, you first describe a feature in a structured specification that the tool helps break down into a concrete implementation plan. From there, Kiro can assist with writing the code to fulfill that plan. The main capabilities described in the README are specs, hooks, agentic chat, steering, and powers. Specs are the structured planning documents. Hooks are automated triggers that run when files change or development events happen, intended to cut down on repetitive manual steps. Agentic chat lets you describe what you want in plain language and have Kiro respond with code changes while keeping track of your project context. Steering files are markdown documents you write to give Kiro project-specific rules or background to guide its behavior. Powers are add-on packages of specialized knowledge and tools for particular domains. Kiro also supports the Model Context Protocol, which is a standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data. The IDE can import VS Code extensions and settings during setup, so switching from an existing editor does not require reconfiguring everything from scratch. The desktop application runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. A command-line version is also available for scripting and automation. Both are distributed through kiro.dev rather than through this repository, which is used for documentation and issue tracking. Billing support is routed through AWS, and security vulnerabilities are reported directly to Amazon rather than as public GitHub issues.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me write a Kiro spec for a user login feature, including the requirements, implementation steps, and acceptance criteria I should include.
Prompt 2
I want to create a Kiro hook that runs my linter and tests automatically every time I save a TypeScript file. Write the hook configuration for me.
Prompt 3
Write a Kiro steering file for my TypeScript project that describes our naming conventions, file structure, and preferred coding patterns.
Prompt 4
I have a Kiro spec for a REST API endpoint. Break it into the smallest possible implementation tasks I can tackle one by one.
Prompt 5
How do I connect Kiro to an external tool using the Model Context Protocol so it can access my database schema while I write code?

Frequently asked questions

What is kiro?

Kiro is an AI-powered code editor by Amazon that uses spec-driven development, you describe a feature as a structured plan, then Kiro breaks it into concrete tasks and helps write the code to fulfill it.

What language is kiro written in?

Mainly TypeScript. The stack also includes TypeScript.

How hard is kiro to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is kiro for?

Mainly developer.

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