Kiro Interface

Kiro's interface is designed to provide a seamless coding experience with AI assistance integrated throughout.

Main Interface Components

Kiro's interface is divided into the following main components:

1. Editor - The central workspace where you write and edit code.
2. Chat Panel - A dedicated panel for interacting with AI, including asking questions, requesting code modifications, and receiving AI responses.
3. Views - The sidebar contains specialized views for managing project files, searching, and source control.
4. Status Bar - Provides information about the current file, Git status, and error/warning counts.
5. Command Palette - A quick access tool for executing common actions and accessing AI tools.

Editor

The central workspace where you write and edit code. Features include:

• Syntax highlighting for multiple languages
• Line numbers and error indicators
• Code folding for better organization
• Multiple tabs for working across files
• Split view support for side-by-side editing

Chat Panel

You can use the chat panel to:

• Ask questions about your code
• Request code generation or modifications
• Get help with debugging and troubleshooting
• Ask for code reviews and optimization suggestions
• Include context with # commands (e.g., #File, #Folder)
• Generate boilerplate code and templates

To move the chat panel to the opposite side of the IDE

In the top menu bar, choose View > Appearance > Move Primary Side Bar Right.

Views

The sidebar contains several specialized views:

• Explorer - Navigate your project file structure, see Git status indicators, and access special sections for Specs and MCP servers.

• Search - Perform global search and replace operations across your entire project.

• Source Control - Manage Git operations, view changes, and handle commits with AI-generated commit messages.

• Run and Debug - View variables, call stacks, and manage breakpoints during debugging sessions.

• Extensions - Install and manage IDE extensions.

• Kiro - A dedicated view for AI-specific features:

  • Specs overview and management
  • Agent Hooks management
  • Agent Steering configuration
  • MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers

Status Bar

Located at the bottom of the interface, the status bar provides:

• Current file information
• Git branch and sync status
• Error and warning counts
• Agent status indicators

Command Palette

Access Kiro's commands quickly by pressing Cmd+Shift+P (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) to:

• Execute common actions
• Access MCP tools
• Configure settings
• Run agent hooks

Navigation Tips

• Use keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation
• Leverage the command palette for quick access to features
• Pin frequently used files for easy access
• Use split views for comparing or referencing code
• Configure workspace settings for personalized experience