Terminal CLI
Kiro CLI
Kiro CLI is Amazon's agent-first coding tool for the terminal, designed around spec-driven development with AI. It integrates with AWS-native workflows while staying portable across stacks.
Kiro CLI plugins on BuySkills
All comparisons
Kiro CLI vs Windsurf
A head-to-head look at Kiro CLI and Windsurf — two popular AI coding agents — and how BuySkills fits into each workflow.
Standalone IDE
Windsurf
Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is a VS Code-based editor built around Cascade, an agent that can reason over your whole codebase and execute multi-step workflows. It targets teams that want agentic pair programming out of the box.
Windsurf plugins on BuySkillsSide-by-side
| Dimension | Kiro CLI | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Terminal CLI | Standalone IDE |
| In a nutshell | Amazon's agent-first terminal tooling | Codeium's agentic IDE with Cascade |
| BuySkills install command | npx buyskills install <skill> | npx buyskills install <skill> |
| Cross-agent skill sharing | Yes — via BuySkills | Yes — via BuySkills |
Use both with a single skill catalog
You don't have to pick. BuySkills lets you install a skill once and use it across Kiro CLI, Windsurf, and every other supported AI coding agent — without repurchasing or reconfiguring.
- One command to install in either agent:
npx buyskills install <skill> - Skills pinned to a version you choose — Kiro CLI or Windsurf updates won't break your loop
- Explore plugins by category: testing, refactoring, documentation, git workflows, and more
Kiro CLI vs Windsurf — FAQ
Should I pick Kiro CLI or Windsurf?
It depends on where you work. Kiro CLI is amazon's agent-first terminal tooling, while Windsurf is codeium's agentic ide with cascade. Many developers use both and share skills across them via BuySkills — so the choice is less binary than it used to be.
Can I use the same plugins in Kiro CLI and Windsurf?
Yes. BuySkills is designed for cross-agent portability. Install a skill once with the BuySkills CLI and it becomes available in both Kiro CLI and Windsurf — and every other supported agent — without a second purchase or install.
How is installing BuySkills skills different between Kiro CLI and Windsurf?
It isn't, from your side. You run `npx buyskills install <skill>`, and the CLI writes the skill to the directory each agent reads from. Kiro CLI and Windsurf pick up the skill without any extra config.
Can I use BuySkills on Kiro CLI without an AWS account?
Yes. BuySkills installs skills into Kiro's local skill directory. The skills run within Kiro's normal agent loop — an AWS account is only required for AWS-specific capabilities, not for BuySkills itself.
Do skills work with Windsurf's Cascade agent?
Yes. BuySkills installs skills into Windsurf's shared skill directory, and Cascade picks them up without restart. Skills are available the moment Cascade decides to use them in a workflow.
Still deciding?
Install BuySkills CLI once and the skills you discover today work in whichever agent you pick tomorrow.
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