# How to teach Kiro your knowledge

Use Kiro steering files to give it persistent instructions about your project. KnowMan is a [personal knowledge base](https://www.knowman.io/guides/personal-knowledge-base) for [saved articles](https://www.knowman.io/guides/how-to-save-articles) and links, with [MCP tools](https://www.knowman.io/guides/what-is-an-mcp-server) for searching, reading, asking questions with citations, and saving URLs. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/) [KnowMan MCP guide](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base)

## Put project rules in steering files

Kiro steering files use markdown to give Kiro persistent project knowledge, including established patterns, libraries, and standards. Workspace steering files live in `.kiro/steering/` and apply to that workspace. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

Global steering files live in `~/.kiro/steering/` and apply across workspaces. If global and workspace instructions conflict, Kiro prioritizes the workspace instructions. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

## Choose when each instruction applies

Write custom steering in standard markdown and describe requirements in natural language. Kiro makes created steering files available across interactions. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

Steering files can use inclusion modes. `always` applies every interaction, `fileMatch` applies when working with matching files, `manual` makes a file available through a `#steering-file-name` reference, and `auto` uses its name and description to decide relevance. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

## Use Kiro's foundation files and AGENTS.md

Kiro can generate `product.md`, `tech.md`, and `structure.md` in `.kiro/steering/`; these foundation files are included in every interaction by default. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

Kiro also supports `AGENTS.md`. It can discover these files in the global steering location, workspace root, and subdirectories. Unlike steering files with inclusion modes, `AGENTS.md` files are always included. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

## Add steering to custom agents

Custom agents do not include steering files automatically. Add steering resources to the agent configuration; the `file://.kiro/steering/**/*.md` pattern loads markdown files from that steering directory. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

## Give Kiro directions as you work

You can also guide Kiro during a session by giving directions in chat. For Kiro Web, feedback on pull requests can [teach the agent patterns](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-agent-memory) for future work across repositories, and only feedback from the task's creator affects what it learns. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

## Where KnowMan fits

Steering files hold instructions about how Kiro should work. KnowMan is a separate personal knowledge base for articles and links you save. Its MCP tools include `kb_search` for finding saved items, `kb_get_item` for reading one item, `kb_ask` for [questions with citations](https://www.knowman.io/guides/knowledge-base-for-ai-agents), and `kb_save` for saving a URL with an optional note. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/) [KnowMan MCP guide](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base)

KnowMan's MCP server is a local stdio server. [KnowMan MCP guide](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base)

## Questions

### Where should I put Kiro project instructions?

Put workspace steering files in `.kiro/steering/` at the project root. They apply only to that workspace. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

### Can Kiro use instructions across all workspaces?

Global steering files go in `~/.kiro/steering/` and apply to all workspaces. Workspace steering takes priority when instructions conflict. [Kiro steering documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/steering/)

### How can Kiro find my saved articles?

KnowMan provides `kb_search` to [search saved items](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-knowledge-base) and `kb_get_item` to read an item. KnowMan's MCP server is a local stdio server. [KnowMan MCP guide](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base)

### Can I connect KnowMan to Kiro now?

KnowMan's MCP server is local and uses stdio. [KnowMan MCP guide](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base)

## Related guides

- [Connect your knowledge base through KnowMan's MCP server](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base)

- [What Is a Knowledge Base for AI Agents?](https://www.knowman.io/guides/knowledge-base-for-ai-agents)

- [How to Give Your AI Context from What You Read](https://www.knowman.io/guides/give-your-ai-context)

## More in this topic

- [How to teach opencode your knowledge](https://www.knowman.io/guides/teach-opencode-your-knowledge)
- [How to teach OpenClaw your knowledge](https://www.knowman.io/guides/teach-openclaw-your-knowledge)
- [How to teach Qwen Code your knowledge](https://www.knowman.io/guides/teach-qwen-code-your-knowledge)

## More for Kiro

- [Connect KnowMan to Kiro](https://www.knowman.io/integrations/kiro)

## Give your knowledge a home

Try KnowMan Pro for 14 days with no credit card. [Create your account](https://app.knowman.io/signup)

[Start free](https://app.knowman.io/signup)

Every new account starts with 14 days of Pro. No credit card.

Source: https://www.knowman.io/guides/teach-kiro-your-knowledge