Migrating from GitHub Copilot to AWS Kiro

With Amazon Kiro's launch in July 2025, many development teams are evaluating whether to migrate from GitHub Copilot to this new spec-driven IDE. While both tools use AI to enhance developer productivity, they represent fundamentally different approaches to software development.

This guide will help you understand the differences, evaluate if migration makes sense for your team, and provide a step-by-step migration process.

Core Philosophy Differences

Feature Comparison

Pricing Comparison

GitHub Copilot

• Individual: $10/month
• Business: $19/month per user
• Enterprise: $39/month per user

AWS Kiro

• Preview: Free (limited interactions)
• Pro: $19/month (1,000 interactions)
• Pro+: $39/month (3,000 interactions)

When to Consider Migration

Good Candidates for Migration

• Teams struggling with code quality: If you constantly deal with bugs, missing tests, or outdated documentation
• Enterprise teams: Organizations that need comprehensive automation and production-ready code
• Spec-driven shops: Teams that already use formal requirements and want better automation
• VS Code users: Teams already standardized on VS Code can easily adopt Kiro

Stick with Copilot If

• Multi-IDE requirements: Your team uses diverse development environments
• Simple completion needs: You primarily need code completion and don't require advanced automation
• Small projects: Working on prototypes or small applications where spec-driven development is overkill

Migration Strategy

Phase 1: Evaluation (2-4 weeks)

Week 1: Setup and Initial Testing

1. Download Kiro from kiro.dev
2. Create test accounts for 2-3 team members
3. Import VS Code settings and extensions
4. Run through the getting started tutorial

# Quick Setup Checklist
□ Download Kiro IDE
□ Sign in with GitHub/Google
□ Import VS Code settings
□ Create first spec with sample project
□ Test basic hooks (auto-testing, doc sync)

Week 2-3: Pilot Project

1. Choose a small, non-critical project for testing
2. Create complete specs using EARS format
3. Set up basic hooks (testing, documentation)
4. Compare development velocity with Copilot workflow

Week 4: Team Evaluation

1. Gather feedback from pilot users
2. Measure productivity metrics
3. Assess code quality improvements
4. Make migration decision

Phase 2: Gradual Migration (4-8 weeks)

Week 1-2: Team Training

• Conduct Kiro training sessions
• Establish spec-writing standards
• Define hook configurations for your tech stack
• Create steering files for your projects

# Team Training Agenda
Day 1: Kiro Fundamentals & Spec-Driven Development
Day 2: EARS Format & Requirements Writing
Day 3: Agent Hooks & Automation Setup
Day 4: Steering Files & Project Configuration
Day 5: Best Practices & Team Standards

Week 3-4: Project Migration

• Start with new features and projects
• Create specs for existing projects gradually
• Set up hooks for critical automation
• Maintain Copilot for legacy projects initially

Week 5-8: Full Adoption

• Migrate remaining projects
• Optimize hook configurations
• Cancel Copilot subscriptions
• Establish ongoing training program

Key Migration Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Learning Curve

Solution: Start with simple specs and basic hooks. Gradually introduce more complex automation as the team becomes comfortable.

Challenge: Existing Workflow Disruption

Solution: Run Kiro alongside Copilot initially. Use Kiro for new projects while maintaining Copilot for ongoing work.

Challenge: Tool Integration

Solution: Leverage Kiro's MCP support to integrate with existing tools. Use VS Code compatibility to maintain familiar environment.

Setting Up Your First Kiro Project

Here's a practical example of migrating a feature from Copilot to Kiro workflow:

Old Copilot Approach

// Developer writes prompt in code comments
// Create a user authentication system with login/logout

// Copilot suggests code completion
// Developer manually writes tests
// Developer manually updates documentation

New Kiro Approach

# requirements.md (EARS Format)
WHEN a user provides valid credentials
THE SYSTEM SHALL authenticate and create a session

WHEN a user provides invalid credentials  
THE SYSTEM SHALL display an error message

# Kiro automatically:
# - Generates design.md with architecture
# - Creates tasks.md with implementation steps
# - Sets up auto-testing hooks
# - Configures documentation sync

ROI and Success Metrics

Track these metrics to measure migration success:

• Code Quality: Bug reduction, test coverage increase
• Documentation: Documentation freshness and completeness
• Development Velocity: Time from concept to production deployment
• Team Satisfaction: Developer productivity and satisfaction scores
• Maintenance Overhead: Time spent on manual testing and documentation

Conclusion

Migration from GitHub Copilot to AWS Kiro represents a fundamental shift from code completion to comprehensive development automation. While the learning curve exists, teams focused on production-ready code quality and comprehensive automation will find significant value in Kiro's spec-driven approach.

Start with the evaluation phase, run a pilot project, and make an informed decision based on your team's specific needs and workflow requirements.