Key takeaways #
- Amazon released Kira, an AI IDE based on VS Code, powered by Claude Sonnet 4.0.
- Kira promotes 'spec-driven development,' focusing on structured requirements, design, and implementation plans.
- The tool is currently free, closed-source, and exclusively uses Claude, with plans for multi-model support.
- Kira's launch coincides with intense competition in the AI IDE market, including recent acquisitions and talent movements involving other VS Code forks.
- Anthropic, a key investor of Amazon, has seen significant revenue growth from its AI tools, with Kira potentially impacting its marketplace dynamics, especially concerning its relationship with Cursor.
Deep dive #
Amazon has released Kira, an AI-powered IDE based on VS Code, aiming to compete with existing tools like Cursor and Copilot. Powered by Claude Sonnet 4.0, Kira emphasizes 'spec-driven development' by guiding users through requirements, design, and implementation plans, in contrast to the rapid code generation of other tools. While its initial release is free and its UI is user-friendly, it experienced some slowness and server overload. Kira is currently closed-source and exclusively uses Claude but plans to support other models in the future. The release of Kira comes amidst significant market activity, including Google acquiring talent from Windsurf (another VS Code fork) for $2.4 billion, and Cognition (creator of Devin) later buying Windsurf's remaining assets. Anthropic, a major player in the AI development space, has seen substantial revenue growth, partly due to its Claude Code CLI tool, with Amazon as a significant investor. Kira's pricing model appears to offer better value for Claude usage compared to Cursor, suggesting it could be a competitive threat.