AWS Kiro: Amazon’s new AI Coding Tool that actually Thinks Before it Codes
Amazon just dropped their newest AI coding assistant called Kiro, and it’s taking a completely different approach than tools like GitHub Copilot or Cursor. Instead of just spitting out code when you ask for it, AWS Kiro actually creates proper project specifications, documentation, and task lists before writing a single line of code. Think of it as the coding assistant that plans before it builds.
I’ve been digging into what makes Kiro different, and honestly, it addresses one of the biggest headaches we face with AI-generated code today: the complete mess of undocumented, unplanned software that becomes impossible to maintain six months later.
What exactly is AWS Kiro?
Kiro is Amazon’s new AI-powered development environment built on top of Visual Studio Code. But here’s where it gets interesting – instead of just being another “ask AI, get code” tool, Kiro works more like having a senior developer on your team who insists on proper planning.
When you describe what you want to build, Kiro doesn’t immediately start coding. First, it creates three key documents:
- Requirements.md – What your app needs to do, written in clear language
- Design.md – The technical blueprint of how it’ll work
- Tasks.md – A step-by-step plan to build everything
Only after these specs are solid does Kiro start writing actual code. It’s like having a project manager, architect, and developer all rolled into one AI assistant.
Why this approach actually matters
Let me paint you a picture. You’ve probably seen this before: someone uses an AI tool to quickly build a feature, it works great initially, but then three months later when you need to modify it, nobody remembers how it works or why certain decisions were made. The code is there, but the thinking behind it is gone.
Kiro solves this by keeping the “why” alongside the “what.” Every piece of code it generates ties back to documented requirements and design decisions. When your team needs to make changes later, they can understand not just what the code does, but why it was built that way.
Real-world Use Cases for Your Business
Rapid prototyping with structure
Need to test a business idea quickly? Kiro can build you a working prototype in hours, complete with proper documentation. Unlike “vibe coding” where you just describe what you want and hope for the best, you get a structured foundation you can actually build on.
Legacy system documentation
Got an old system with zero documentation? Point Kiro at your existing codebase and it can help generate the missing specs and technical docs. This is huge for small businesses dealing with inherited or poorly documented systems.
Team Onboarding
When new developers join your team, Kiro’s spec-driven approach means they can understand both the code and the reasoning behind it. No more spending weeks trying to figure out why something was built a certain way.
Client Projects
If you’re an agency or consultant, having AI-generated specifications alongside your code deliverables adds serious professional value. Clients get documentation that actually explains what they’re paying for.
How it works in practice
I tested Kiro by asking it to build a volunteer management system for gaming sessions. Within minutes, it had mapped out a complete React frontend, Node.js backend, and PostgreSQL database setup. The specs included everything from Material-UI components to Jest testing frameworks.
The AI then broke down the entire project into 20 specific tasks, each with multiple steps. I watched it successfully complete the initial project setup and start working on database configuration. While it hit some snags connecting to PostgreSQL (these tools still need human guidance), the amount of structured work it completed in minutes would have taken me days to plan and implement manually.
What makes AWS Kiro different from other AI Coding Tools
Most AI coding assistants work like this: you ask a question, they give you code, you copy-paste it and hope it works. Kiro flips this completely.
GitHub Copilot excels at autocompleting code as you type, but it doesn’t plan projects or create documentation.
Cursor is great for editing existing code and having conversations about your codebase, but it’s still primarily reactive.
Kiro thinks like a software architect first, then codes. It’s proactive rather than reactive.
The tool also supports what Amazon calls “agent hooks” – automated actions that trigger when you save files, create new ones, or delete existing code. For example, you can set up hooks that automatically generate tests, check for security issues, or update documentation when you make changes.
AWS Kiro Pricing that makes sense for Small Businesses
Kiro is free during the preview period (which is happening right now). Once it goes live, the pricing is actually reasonable:
Free Tier: 50 AI interactions per month
Pro: $19/month for 1,000 interactions
Pro+: $39/month for 3,000 interactions
Each “interaction” can be a complex back-and-forth session that runs for 3-5 minutes while Kiro works on your code. For most small businesses and individual developers, the Pro tier should be plenty.
The technology behind it
Kiro runs on Anthropic’s Claude models (the same company behind Claude AI), but Amazon plans to support other AI models too. It’s built as a fork of VS Code, so if you’re already comfortable with Microsoft’s editor, you’ll feel right at home.
The tool works with multiple programming languages, but it seems most polished for TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, and Java. One downside for .NET developers: since Kiro uses the open-source VS Code foundation, it doesn’t include Microsoft’s proprietary C# extensions.
Should you care about Kiro?
Here’s my honest take: if you’re tired of AI tools that generate code without context, Kiro is worth trying. The specification-driven approach addresses real problems that many businesses face with AI-generated software.
However, it’s not magic. You still need someone who understands software development to guide the process and handle the inevitable hiccups. Think of Kiro as a very smart junior developer who’s excellent at planning and implementation but still needs senior oversight.
For small businesses and agencies, the ability to generate proper documentation alongside working code could be a real differentiator. Clients appreciate when they can understand what they’re getting, and your future self will thank you when you need to modify that code six months from now.
The bigger picture
Kiro represents Amazon’s bet that the future of AI coding isn’t just about generating more code faster – it’s about generating better, more maintainable code with proper documentation and structure.
While tools like GitHub Copilot focus on making individual developers more productive, Kiro seems designed for team environments where code needs to be understood, maintained, and extended over time.
Getting started with AWS Kiro
You can try Kiro right now at kiro.dev. You don’t even need an AWS account – just sign in with GitHub or Google. Since it’s in preview, everything is free while you test it out.
My recommendation? Take it for a spin on a small project first. Pick something you understand well so you can evaluate how good Kiro’s specifications and code actually are. Don’t bet your entire business on it immediately, but definitely see if the spec-driven approach clicks with how your team works.
The AI coding space is moving fast, and tools like Kiro show that we’re moving beyond simple code generation toward more thoughtful, structured development assistance. Whether that matters for your specific situation depends on how much you value documentation and long-term maintainability versus pure speed.
But if you’ve ever inherited a project with zero documentation and wanted to scream, Kiro might just be the AI assistant you’ve been waiting for.
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