Kiro

Overview

Kiro is an all-in-one AI IDE (based on a VS Code fork) designed for Spec-Driven Development. Unlike lightweight CLI tools, Kiro provides a comprehensive, integrated development environment that guides developers through structured workflows for building software with AI assistance.

As an integrated IDE, Kiro emphasizes a complete development experience within a single environment, bringing together specification, design, and implementation tooling in one place.

Core Workflow

Kiro guides users through a structured three-phase workflow:

1. Requirements

The first phase focuses on capturing and defining what needs to be built, establishing clear requirements before moving to design.

2. Design

Once requirements are established, the design phase translates those requirements into technical specifications and architectural decisions.

3. Task List

The final phase breaks down the design into concrete, implementable tasks that guide development work.

This structured progression ensures teams move systematically from understanding what to build, through how to build it, to executing the implementation.

Kiro's Approach

As an IDE-centric tool, Kiro distinguishes itself from CLI-based alternatives by providing:

• Integrated Environment: All specification, design, and development work happens within a single IDE rather than across multiple tools
• Visual Workflows: IDE-based workflows provide visual structure and guidance through the SDD process
• AI-First Design: Built specifically for AI-assisted development, integrating AI capabilities throughout the workflow
• Comprehensive Tooling: Rather than being a lightweight addition to existing workflows, Kiro provides a complete environment

When to Consider Kiro

Kiro may be a good fit for teams that:

• Prefer integrated IDE experiences over CLI-based workflows
• Want a comprehensive environment for AI-assisted development
• Value visual workflows and structured guidance through development phases
• Are comfortable adopting a VS Code fork as their primary development environment
• Want all specification, design, and implementation tooling in one place

The IDE-centric approach means Kiro is a more comprehensive commitment compared to lightweight CLI tools that integrate into existing workflows.

Learn More

• Kiro Official Website

  Official Kiro website with documentation, downloads, and getting started guides.

• Growing List of Spec-Driven Development Tools

  Overview of the SDD tools landscape including Kiro and alternatives.