Terminal-Based Spec Development
Browser-Based AI Development
Kiro's specification-driven approach and production focus give it the edge for serious development. Bolt excels at rapid prototyping with its browser-based environment and instant deployment.
| Feature | AWS Kiro | Bolt.new |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Terminal/CLI | Web browser |
| Pricing | Free tier + Usage-based | $0-20/month |
| Setup Time | 5 minutes (install) | Instant (browser) |
| Development Style | Specification-driven | Conversational |
| Local Development | Yes (preferred) | Browser-based |
| Best For | Production systems | Rapid prototypes |
| Feature | AWS Kiro | Bolt.new |
|---|---|---|
| Spec-Driven Development | ✅ Core feature | ❌ Chat-based |
| Full-Stack Development | ✅ Complete | ✅ Yes |
| Instant Preview | ❌ Terminal output | ✅ Live preview |
| Multi-Agent System | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Single AI |
| Deployment | ✅ Multiple clouds | ✅ Netlify/Vercel |
| Framework Support | ✅ Multiple | ⚠️ Limited |
| Package Management | ✅ Full npm/pip | ✅ npm support |
| Version Control | ✅ Git integration | ⚠️ Download/upload |
| Testing Framework | ✅ Comprehensive | ⚠️ Basic |
| Production Ready | ✅ Enterprise-grade | ⚠️ Prototype-focused |
• Production applications
• Complex architectures
• Enterprise systems
• Team collaboration
• Reproducible builds
• Comprehensive testing
• Quick prototypes
• Demo applications
• Learning projects
• Instant deployment
• Browser-based dev
• No-setup coding
# Terminal workflow
kiro spec create todo-app
# Specification file
spec:
requirements:
- CRUD operations for todos
- User authentication
- Real-time updates
- Mobile responsive
kiro generate
# Result: Complete app with:
# - Backend API
# - Database schema
# - Frontend components
# - Authentication system
# - Tests (unit, integration, e2e)
# - Deployment configuration
// Browser conversation "Create a todo app with: - Add/edit/delete todos - Mark as complete - Filter by status - Save to localStorage - Clean modern design" // Bolt generates: // - React components // - State management // - CSS styling // - Instant preview // - Deployable to Netlify // You can see and interact with the app immediately
| Metric | AWS Kiro | Bolt.new |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Setup | 5-10 minutes | Instant |
| First App Generation | 2-5 minutes | 30-60 seconds |
| Iteration Speed | Moderate (spec-based) | Very fast (chat) |
| Deployment Time | Varies by cloud | < 1 minute |
| Learning Curve | 1-2 days | < 1 hour |
Both tools excel in their domains. Kiro for production systems, Bolt for rapid prototyping and demos.