AI-DLC (AI-Driven Development Life Cycle)

AI-DLC is an intelligent software development workflow that adapts to your needs, maintains quality standards, and keeps you in control of the process. For learning more about AI-DLC Methodology, read this blog and the Method Definition Paper referred in it.

Quick Start

Installation

Set up the AI-DLC rule files as part of your supported platform.

Kiro CLI

AI-DLC uses Kiro Steering Files within your project workspace to implement its intelligent workflow. To activate AI-DLC in your project, copy the rules to your project's workspace under the <your-project-root>/.kiro/steering folder.

git clone <repo for aidlc-workflows>
cd ../my-project # assuming your project is located under the same parent folder as the cloned repo
mkdir -p .kiro/steering && cp -R ../aidlc-workflows/aidlc-rules .kiro/steering

To confirm that the AI-DLC rules are correctly loaded in your Kiro CLI, follow these steps:

1. Start Kiro CLI: kiro-cli

2. Check your context contents: /context show

3. Verify that you see all entries for .kiro/steering/aidlc-rules in the displayed list of rules.

If you do not see them, please check the directory where you previously issued the cp command. Ensure that aidlc-rules folder was successfully copied to the correct location. The .kiro directory must sit directly below the project root.

Amazon Q Developer IDE Plugin/Extension

AI-DLC uses Amazon Q Rules to implement its intelligent workflow. To activate AI-DLC in your project, copy the rules to your project's workspace under the <project-root>/.amazonq folder.

git clone <repo for aidlc-workflows>
cd my-project # assuming your project is located under the same parent folder as the cloned repo
mkdir -p .amazonq/rules && cp -R ../aidlc-workflows/aidlc-rules .amazonq/rules

To confirm that the Amazon Q Rules are correctly loaded in your IDE, follow these steps:

1. In the Amazon Q Chat window, locate the Rules button in the lower right corner and click on it.

2. Verify that you see entries for .amazonq/rules/aidlc-rules in the displayed list of rules.

If you do not see the aidlc-rules rules loaded, please check the directory where you previously issued the cp command. Ensure that aidlc-rules folder was successfully copied to the correct location. The .amazonq directory must sit directly below the project root.

Usage

1. Start any software development project by stating your intent in the chat (Amazon Q IDE Extension or in Q CLI). AI-DLC automatically activates and guides you from there.
2. Answer structured questions that AI-DLC asks you
3. Carefully review every plan that AI generates. Provide your oversight and validation.
4. Review the execution plan to see which stages will run
5. Carefully review the artifacts and approve each stage to maintain control
6. All the artifacts will be generated in the aidlc-docs/ directory

Three-Phase Adaptive Workflow

AI-DLC follows a structured three-phase approach that adapts to your project's complexity:

• 🔵 INCEPTION PHASE: Determines WHAT to build and WHY

  • Requirements analysis and validation
  • User story creation (when applicable)
  • Application Design and creating units of work for parallel development
  • Risk assessment and complexity evaluation

• 🟢 CONSTRUCTION PHASE: Determines HOW to build it

  • Detailed component design
  • Code generation and implementation
  • Build configuration and testing strategies
  • Quality assurance and validation

• 🟡 OPERATIONS PHASE: Deployment and monitoring (future)

  • Deployment automation and infrastructure
  • Monitoring and observability setup
  • Production readiness validation

Key Features

• Adaptive Intelligence: Only executes stages that add value to your specific request
• Context-Aware: Analyzes existing codebase and complexity requirements
• Risk-Based: Complex changes get comprehensive treatment, simple changes stay efficient
• Question-Driven: Structured multiple-choice questions in files, not chat
• Always in Control: Review execution plans and approve each phase

Prerequisites

Have one of our supported platforms/tools for Assisted AI Coding installed:

• Kiro CLI
• Amazon Q Developer IDE plugin
• Kiro IDE (coming soon)

Security

See CONTRIBUTING for more information.

License

This library is licensed under the MIT-0 License. See the LICENSE file.