Kiro: spec-driven coding agent with phase-by-phase approval
Kiro is a coding agent that pushes back on full autonomy: it uses a spec-driven approach where each phase (requirements, design, execution) is validated by the developer before moving on. This philosophy attracts teams that want strong control over the AI's direction, especially in regulated or complex contexts. Kiro is a single-thread IDE agent, not a swarm of parallel agents: the idea is a disciplined companion, not a horde. Native AWS integration (IAM, Lambda, CDK) makes it a natural fit for teams already in the Amazon ecosystem. Structured oversight cuts the usual drift risk of fully autonomous agents.
For who
Dev teams working on critical or regulated systems, AWS users, and developers who prefer to actively supervise their AI.
Input
Besoin metier, contraintes techniques, documentation existante, references AWS.
steps (6)
Install Kiro
infoDownload Kiro from kiro.dev and connect your AWS account if you want native integration.
Start a spec
infoOpen a new spec session and describe the business need in plain English.
Validate requirements
infoKiro produces a structured requirements doc. You review, edit, and approve before moving on.
Review the design
infoKiro proposes a detailed architecture (modules, interfaces, data). Iterate until you approve.
Authorize execution
infoKiro starts the implementation, file by file, pausing to confirm sensitive choices.
Test and merge
infoReview generated tests, validate the diffs, and merge into your main branch.
Output
Document de specs validees phase par phase, plus code implemente et tests generes, relies a la spec.
Example
Input
Spec: "I want an AWS Lambda that processes S3 image uploads, generates 3 sizes (thumb, medium, large) via Sharp, stores them in another bucket, and triggers an SNS event."
Output
Kiro starts with requirements (supported formats, size limits, error handling), approved in 2 iterations. Design approved: CDK + Lambda + Sharp + SNS. Generated implementation: 4 files, 12 unit tests, full CDK stack. Each phase validated by the developer.
Customization
| Parameter | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Integration AWS | Activer IAM/Lambda/CDK natifs pour les projets AWS. | Active |
| Profondeur des specs | Niveau de detail des phases requirements/design (leger, standard, exhaustif). | Standard |
| Mode autonomie | Validation phase par phase (strict) ou batch (execution automatique apres design). | Strict |