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Installing Kiro IDE

2 min read

What is Kiro?

Kiro is an AI-powered IDE built by AWS, based on Code OSS (VS Code). It uses spec-driven development where you describe what you want to build and Kiro generates specifications, designs, and code. It integrates with Amazon Bedrock and Claude.

Prerequisites

  • AWS Builder ID — Free, no credit card required. Create one at profile.aws.builder
  • Internet connection for AI features

Installation

macOS

  1. Go to kiro.dev and download the macOS installer
  2. Open the .dmg file
  3. Drag Kiro into your Applications folder
  4. Launch Kiro from Applications

Windows

  1. Go to kiro.dev and download the Windows installer
  2. Run the .exe installer and follow the setup wizard
  3. Launch Kiro from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut

Linux

  1. Go to kiro.dev and download the Linux package
  2. Install via your package manager:
# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dpkg -i kiro_*.deb
 
# Fedora/RHEL
sudo rpm -i kiro_*.rpm
  1. Launch Kiro from your application menu or run kiro in the terminal

Signing In

  1. Open Kiro
  2. Click Sign In with AWS Builder ID when prompted
  3. Your browser will open for authentication
  4. Once authenticated, Kiro is ready to use

Verify It Works

  1. Create a new project or open an existing folder
  2. Check that the AI assistant panel is available
  3. Try a simple prompt to confirm your connection is active

Kiro Project Structure

Kiro uses special files to understand your project:

  • .kiro/specs — Specifications that describe your project’s features and logic
  • Steering files — Guide how Kiro generates and modifies code

You don’t need to create these manually — Kiro will help you generate them during the workshop.

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