Frequently Asked Questions About Kiro
What is spec-driven development — and why does it matter for AI-assisted coding?
Spec-driven development flips the script: instead of prompting AI to “write code,” you prompt it to help you *define what success looks like*. Kiro generates living specs — testable, versionable, and linked to implementation. This prevents drift, enables early validation with stakeholders, and gives AI precise guardrails — resulting in fewer hallucinations, less backtracking, and higher maintainability.
Is Kiro really free? Are there any usage limits during the preview?
Yes — Kiro is completely free during its public preview period. You get full access to spec generation, agent hooks, Autopilot Mode, MCP integrations, and all supported languages and frameworks — no paywalls, no token caps, no watermarked outputs. We’re committed to keeping core spec-driven development free forever. Future Pro tiers will unlock advanced team collaboration features and higher agentic throughput — but the foundation remains open and accessible.
Does Kiro replace my current IDE — or extend it?
Kiro extends it — powerfully. It’s a drop-in replacement for VS Code (desktop & web), built on the same OSS foundation. Your extensions, settings sync, keyboard shortcuts, and even custom keymaps carry over. Think of it as VS Code, supercharged with AI agents that understand your specs, your stack, and your standards — not a separate silo requiring migration.
Which languages, frameworks, and tools does Kiro support out of the box?
Kiro supports any language with b documentation and ecosystem tooling — including JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, Java, C#, and SQL. Frameworks like React, Next.js, Django, Spring Boot, and .NET Core are natively understood. With MCP, Kiro dynamically adapts to your tech stack by ingesting your internal docs, API specs, and database schemas — making it truly polyglot and platform-agnostic.
How do agent hooks differ from standard IDE snippets or macros?
Snippets insert static text. Macros replay keystrokes. Agent hooks delegate *reasoning* — they trigger AI agents to *interpret context*, *consult connected resources* (via MCP), *generate novel artifacts*, and *validate correctness* before acting. Saving a new service file? An agent hook doesn’t just add boilerplate — it reads your OpenAPI spec, checks DB schema, writes integration tests, and updates dependency graphs — all autonomously and consistently.
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