A comprehensive guide to systematic feature development using the three-phase spec process: Requirements → Design → Tasks.

New to spec-driven development? → Start with Methodology Overview
Ready to create your first spec? → Jump to Process Guide
Looking for examples? → Browse Examples & Case Studies
Need templates? → Get Ready-to-Use Templates
Working with AI? → Learn Prompting Strategies

📍 Need detailed navigation? → See Complete Navigation Index - Find content by role, problem, or learning style

Learn the foundational concepts and philosophy behind spec-driven development

• Overview - Core concepts and benefits
• Philosophy - Why spec-driven development works
• When to Use - Decision framework and scenarios

Step-by-step walkthrough of the three-phase workflow

• Requirements Phase - Gathering and structuring requirements using EARS
• Design Phase - Creating comprehensive design documents
• Tasks Phase - Breaking down design into actionable coding tasks
• Workflow Diagrams - Visual process flows and decision points

Insights into decision-making frameworks and thought processes

• Decision Frameworks - How choices are evaluated
• Thought Processes - Analysis and prioritization methods
• Examples - Real reasoning chains and decision points

Effective communication techniques for AI collaboration

• Strategies - Core prompting approaches
• Templates - Ready-to-use prompt patterns
• Best Practices - Tips for clear, effective communication

Practical guidance for implementing features from specs

• Implementation Guide - Step-by-step execution strategies
• Quality Assurance - Testing and validation techniques
• Troubleshooting - Common issues and solutions

Curated references and learning materials

• Standards - EARS and industry standards
• Tools - Recommended tools and integrations
• Further Reading - Additional learning resources

Real-world case studies and complete spec examples

• Simple Feature Specs - Basic feature examples
• Complex System Specs - Large system examples
• Case Studies - Success stories and lessons learned
• Troubleshooting & Pitfalls - Common mistakes and recovery strategies

Ready-to-use templates and checklists

• Requirements Template - EARS-formatted requirements
• Design Template - Comprehensive design structure
• Tasks Template - Implementation planning format

New to spec-driven development? Start here:

1. Understand the Methodology - Read the Overview to grasp core concepts
2. See It in Action - Review a Simple Feature Spec example
3. Try It Yourself - Use the Requirements Template for your first spec
4. Get Better Results - Apply Prompting Strategies for AI collaboration

• 📋 Process sections provide step-by-step instructions
• 🧠 AI Reasoning sections explain the "why" behind decisions
• 💬 Prompting sections help you communicate effectively with AI
• 📖 Examples show complete, real-world applications
• 📝 Templates give you ready-to-use starting points

• Planning Phase: Methodology → Requirements → Design → Tasks
• Execution Phase: Implementation Guide → Quality Assurance
• AI Collaboration: Prompting Strategies → AI Reasoning → Best Practices

• Beginner: Methodology → Simple Examples → Templates
• Intermediate: Process Guide → Prompting Strategies → Case Studies
• Advanced: AI Reasoning → Complex Examples → Decision Frameworks

• Unclear Requirements → Requirements Phase + EARS Standards
• Design Challenges → Design Phase + AI Decision Frameworks
• Implementation Issues → Implementation Guide + Troubleshooting
• AI Communication Problems → Prompting Best Practices + Troubleshooting

The Kiro MCP Server exposes Kiro's system prompts and instructions through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing other AI assistants and tools to access Kiro's best practices.

• Resources: Access all Kiro system documentation files via MCP resources
• Tools: Query and retrieve specific system instructions programmatically
• Prompts: Pre-configured prompts for common Kiro workflows

Install and configure the MCP server:

# Using uvx (recommended)
uvx kiro-mcp-server

# Or install with pip
pip install kiro-mcp-server

Add to your MCP client configuration (e.g., ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kiro-prompts": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["kiro-mcp-server"],
      "disabled": false
    }
  }
}

For more details, see the MCP Server Documentation.

This guide is designed to be both a learning resource and a reference manual. Jump to any section based on your current needs, or read through sequentially for comprehensive understanding.

📍 For detailed navigation by role, problem, or learning style, see the Complete Navigation Index