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layout default
title Chapter 1: Getting Started
nav_order 1
parent Kiro Tutorial

Chapter 1: Getting Started

Welcome to Chapter 1: Getting Started. In this part of Kiro Tutorial: Spec-Driven Agentic IDE from AWS, you will build an intuitive mental model first, then move into concrete implementation details and practical production tradeoffs.

This chapter gets you from zero to a running Kiro workspace so you can move into spec-driven workflows without setup drift.

Learning Goals

  • download and install Kiro on Mac, Windows, or Linux
  • authenticate using GitHub, Google, or AWS Builder ID
  • open or create your first project
  • understand the Kiro workspace layout and panel structure
  • run your first AI-assisted interaction in the chat panel

Fast Start Checklist

  1. download Kiro from kiro.dev
  2. launch the installer for your platform
  3. authenticate with GitHub, Google, or AWS Builder ID
  4. open a local folder or clone a repository
  5. open the Kiro chat panel and send a first message

Installation Paths

Platform Method Notes
macOS .dmg download from kiro.dev drag to Applications, allow Gatekeeper
Windows .exe installer from kiro.dev run as administrator if needed
Linux .deb or .AppImage from kiro.dev mark AppImage executable before launch

Authentication Methods

Kiro supports three authentication providers at launch. All grant access to the same base capabilities.

Method Best For Notes
GitHub developers with existing GitHub accounts one-click OAuth flow
Google teams using Google Workspace standard OAuth redirect
AWS Builder ID teams already using AWS services connects to AWS identity layer 
# After launch, Kiro presents an authentication screen.
# No manual token setup is required for GitHub or Google.
# For AWS Builder ID, sign in at https://profile.aws.amazon.com
# and complete the device authorization flow shown in Kiro.

First Project Flow

1. Launch Kiro
2. Select "Open Folder" or "Clone Repository"
3. For a new project: File > New Folder, then open it in Kiro
4. Kiro indexes the workspace automatically
5. Open the Chat panel (View > Kiro Chat or the sidebar icon)
6. Type: "Summarize this project structure"

Workspace Layout

Panel Purpose
Explorer file tree with .kiro/ directory visible
Editor multi-tab code editor (VS Code-compatible)
Chat AI conversation panel with spec and agent controls
Terminal integrated terminal for build and run commands
Specs shortcut panel to requirements, design, and tasks files

First Interaction

# In the Chat panel, start simple:
> Summarize the top-level directory structure of this project.

# Kiro reads the workspace and responds with a structured overview.
# This confirms authentication and workspace indexing are working.

Early Failure Triage

Symptom Likely Cause First Fix
blank chat panel after login auth token not saved sign out and re-authenticate
project files not indexed large repo or excluded paths check .gitignore and Kiro workspace settings
model response not appearing network proxy blocking Kiro endpoints configure proxy in Kiro settings
AWS Builder ID flow hangs device code expired restart the sign-in flow in Kiro

Source References

Summary

You now have Kiro installed, authenticated, and connected to a project workspace.

Next: Chapter 2: Spec-Driven Development Workflow

Depth Expansion Playbook

Source Code Walkthrough

Note: Kiro is a proprietary AWS IDE; the kirodotdev/Kiro public repository contains documentation, specs, and GitHub automation scripts rather than the IDE's source code. The authoritative references for this chapter are the official Kiro documentation and the .kiro/ directory structure created in your projects.

Kiro workspace layout — .kiro/ directory

When you open a project in Kiro, it creates a .kiro/ directory at the project root. This directory contains steering files, spec documents, and hook configurations. The Explorer panel in Kiro makes this directory visible — inspecting it confirms that authentication and workspace indexing worked correctly.

Kiro Docs: Getting Started

The official Getting Started guide documents the installation flow for each platform (.dmg, .exe, .deb/.AppImage), the three authentication paths (GitHub OAuth, Google OAuth, AWS Builder ID device flow), and the workspace panel structure covered in this chapter.

How These Components Connect

flowchart TD
    A[Download from kiro.dev] --> B[Platform installer]
    B --> C[Authentication: GitHub / Google / AWS Builder ID]
    C --> D[Open project folder]
    D --> E[Kiro indexes workspace]
    E --> F[.kiro/ directory created]
    F --> G[Chat panel available]
    G --> H[First AI-assisted interaction]
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