Kiro's agent hooks are game-changers for developer productivity. These event-driven automations act like an experienced developer constantly watching your back, catching common mistakes, and ensuring best practices without manual intervention.
Think of hooks as your personal code review assistant, documentation keeper, and quality assurance engineer rolled into one. Here are 10 essential hooks that will transform how you build software.
Auto-Test Generator
Trigger: When you save a React component or function
Action: Automatically generates or updates corresponding test files with comprehensive test cases.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Auto Test Generator",
"trigger": "onSave",
"pattern": "**/*.{jsx,tsx,js,ts}",
"exclude": "**/*.test.*",
"action": "Generate unit tests for the saved component"
}
Why it matters: Ensures every component has test coverage, catching bugs before they reach production.
API Documentation Sync
Trigger: When you modify API routes or endpoints
Action: Updates README files, API documentation, and OpenAPI specs.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "API Doc Sync",
"trigger": "onSave",
"pattern": "**/routes/**/*.{js,ts}",
"action": "Update API documentation and OpenAPI specs"
}
Why it matters: Keeps documentation in perfect sync with your API changes, eliminating stale docs.
Security Scanner
Trigger: Before commit
Action: Scans for leaked credentials, hardcoded secrets, and security vulnerabilities.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Security Scanner",
"trigger": "preCommit",
"action": "Scan for API keys, passwords, and security issues",
"blockOnFailure": true
}
Why it matters: Prevents accidental credential leaks and identifies security issues early.
Code Standards Enforcer
Trigger: When you save any code file
Action: Validates code against team standards and style guidelines.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Code Standards",
"trigger": "onSave",
"pattern": "**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}",
"action": "Ensure Single Responsibility Principle and team coding standards"
}
Why it matters: Maintains consistent code quality across your entire team automatically.
Dependency Tracker
Trigger: When package.json changes
Action: Updates dependency documentation and checks for security vulnerabilities.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Dependency Tracker",
"trigger": "onSave",
"pattern": "**/package.json",
"action": "Update dependency docs and run security audit"
}
Why it matters: Keeps track of dependencies and identifies security vulnerabilities in third-party packages.
Database Schema Sync
Trigger: When you modify database models
Action: Updates migration files and database documentation.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Schema Sync",
"trigger": "onSave",
"pattern": "**/models/**/*.{js,ts}",
"action": "Generate migrations and update schema documentation"
}
Why it matters: Ensures database changes are properly tracked and documented.
Environment Config Validator
Trigger: When you modify environment files
Action: Validates environment variables and updates configuration documentation.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Env Validator",
"trigger": "onSave",
"pattern": "**/.env*",
"action": "Validate environment variables and update config docs"
}
Why it matters: Prevents configuration errors and maintains up-to-date environment documentation.
Performance Monitor
Trigger: After running tests
Action: Analyzes performance metrics and suggests optimizations.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Performance Monitor",
"trigger": "postTest",
"action": "Analyze bundle size, load times, and suggest optimizations"
}
Why it matters: Catches performance regressions early and provides optimization suggestions.
Changelog Generator
Trigger: Before version tagging
Action: Automatically generates changelog entries from commit messages and pull requests.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Changelog Generator",
"trigger": "preTag",
"action": "Generate changelog from commits since last version"
}
Why it matters: Maintains accurate release notes without manual effort.
Deployment Readiness Checker
Trigger: Before production deployment
Action: Runs comprehensive checks including tests, security scans, and performance validation.
// Hook Configuration
{
"name": "Deployment Checker",
"trigger": "preDeploy",
"action": "Run full test suite, security scan, and performance checks",
"blockOnFailure": true
}
Why it matters: Ensures only production-ready code gets deployed, reducing downtime and bugs.
Best Practices for Hook Management
Start Simple
Begin with basic hooks like auto-testing and documentation sync. Add more complex automation as your team becomes comfortable with the workflow.
Team Alignment
Make sure your entire team understands and agrees to the automated processes. Hooks should enhance productivity, not create friction.
Regular Review
Periodically review your hooks to ensure they're still providing value and adjust them as your project evolves.
Pro Tip
Use Kiro's Agent Hooks panel to access, update, and monitor all your hooks in one place. You can modify triggers, file patterns, and instructions anytime, with changes applying immediately.
Setting Up Your First Hook
To create a hook in Kiro:
- Open the Agent Hooks section in the Kiro panel
- Click "Create New Hook"
- Define the trigger event (onSave, preCommit, etc.)
- Set file patterns to monitor
- Describe the desired action in plain English
- Test the hook and refine as needed
The hooks system saved me countless hours of manual testing and documentation. It's like having an experienced developer watching my back, ensuring I never forget the important details that make code production-ready.
Conclusion
Kiro's hooks represent a fundamental shift in how we think about development automation. Instead of remembering to run tests, update docs, or check for security issues, you can set up intelligent automation that handles these tasks consistently and reliably.
Start with these 10 hooks and customize them for your specific workflow. The goal is to automate the repetitive tasks that consume mental energy, freeing you to focus on solving complex problems and building great software.