AWS re:Invent 2025-Unlock the power of Kiro steering: Your blueprint for scalable development-DVT340

Unlocking the Power of Kiro Steering: A Blueprint for Scalable Development

The Evolution of Kiro

• In 2023, Kiro introduced AI-powered inline code completion to help developers write code faster.
• In 2024, Kiro added specialized "agents" that could perform specific tasks like generating unit tests.
• In 2025, Kiro released a CLI tool and focused on enabling "agentic development" - developers working hand-in-hand with AI agents.

The Promise and Challenges of Agentic Development

• Promises of agentic development:
  • Autonomy - agents can work independently while developers focus on high-value work
  • Collaboration - a "pair programming" experience with the agent
  • Higher quality - agents leveraging their broad knowledge to produce better code
• Challenges faced:
  • Scaling AI development - agents struggle with complex, large-scale tasks
  • Limited control - developers losing control over the agent's actions
  • Perception of poor code quality - agents lacking the necessary context

The Importance of Steering

• Steering is the key to unlocking the full potential of Kiro's agentic development.
• Just like steering a car, steering an AI agent is critical to keeping it on the right track and producing the desired outcomes.
• Steering addresses the key challenges by providing the necessary context and guidance to the agent.

Foundational and Custom Steering Documents

• Foundational steering documents:
  • Product file - high-level business objectives and target users
  • Technology stack - frameworks, libraries, and tools used
  • Project structure - file organization and naming conventions
• Custom steering documents:
  • Encode domain-specific knowledge, policies, and best practices
  • Provide examples and guidance on acceptable/unacceptable code patterns
  • Should be treated as "living" documents, updated alongside the codebase

Benefits of Effective Steering

• Consistent code generation - agents have the necessary context to produce reliable, consistent code
• Reduced repetition - developers don't have to constantly remind the agent of important details
• Team alignment - shared steering documents ensure all team members are on the same page
• Scalable project knowledge - steering documents evolve with the codebase, preserving institutional knowledge

Best Practices for Steering Documents

• Organize documents by domain (e.g., logging standards, architectural guidelines)
• Provide concrete examples and "what to avoid" guidance to reduce ambiguity
• Manage context carefully - include only the most relevant steering documents for the current task
• Leverage centralized sources of truth (e.g., via MCP) to ensure consistency across the organization
• Treat steering documents as code - review them, version them, and maintain them alongside the codebase

Kiro Powers and the Future of Agentic Development

• Kiro Powers is a new feature that allows pre-packaged "steering packs" to be easily installed
• These packs can include MCP integrations, steering documents, and custom hooks to extend Kiro's capabilities
• Enables organizations to quickly set up and distribute consistent agentic development practices

Neielson Sports' Journey with Kiro

• Neielson Sports, a data-driven sports analytics company, has embraced Kiro to manage their complex application ecosystem.
• By encoding their policies, standards, and best practices in steering documents, Neielson has seen improvements in test coverage, documentation, and code quality.
• Neielson's goal is to scale this success across their entire portfolio of applications, creating a consistent "etiquette" for their developers.

Key Takeaways

• Steering is the critical missing piece for unlocking the full potential of agentic development with Kiro.
• Foundational and custom steering documents provide the necessary context and guidance to AI agents, addressing the challenges of scaling, control, and code quality.
• Effective steering practices, such as organizing by domain, providing examples, and managing context, are essential for successful agentic development.
• Kiro Powers and centralized steering document management can help organizations quickly set up and scale their agentic development practices.
• Real-world examples like Neielson Sports demonstrate the tangible benefits of embracing Kiro's steering capabilities.