amazon-q-developer-cli
Amazon Q Developer CLI is an open-source, Rust-based terminal agent that builds applications using natural language. The project is no longer actively maintained and has been superseded by the closed-source Kiro CLI; it will receive only critical security fixes.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | aws/amazon-q-developer-cli |
| Owner | aws |
| Primary language | Rust |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 2k |
| Forks | 437 |
| Open issues | 1.3k |
| Latest release | v1.19.7 (2025-11-17) |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://github.com/aws/amazon-q-developer-cli |
What amazon-q-developer-cli is
A Rust-based agentic CLI leveraging LLMs to enable natural language application development. Built with MCP (Model Context Protocol) support, it provides a modular architecture across multiple Rust crates with TypeScript integration points.
Get the amazon-q-developer-cli source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/aws/amazon-q-developer-cli.gitcd amazon-q-developer-cli# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Rust toolchain dependency (rustup, nightly, stable) required for local development; prebuilt binaries available for macOS, Ubuntu, Debian, and AppImage.
- High issue count (1,293) relative to star count (1,976) suggests unresolved bugs; assess whether outstanding issues affect your use case before adoption.
- Dual licensing (MIT and Apache 2.0) requires choice at deployment time; clarify internal policy on which license governs your usage.
- No active maintenance means security vulnerabilities may be discovered and patched slowly; risk assessment critical for any internet-facing or sensitive data handling.
- MCP and LLM integration; ensure your LLM provider (AWS Bedrock, etc.) alignment and API stability assumptions are verified for your region and account.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Production-critical deployments requiring active maintenance — Project is deprecated in favor of Kiro CLI. Active maintenance and feature development have ceased; only critical security patches are provided.
- Closed-source or proprietary requirement — This is open-source under dual MIT/Apache 2.0; if your compliance policy forbids open-source dependencies or requires proprietary tooling, use Kiro CLI instead.
- Organizations heavily invested in AWS ecosystem — AWS has officially transitioned to Kiro CLI as the canonical product. Choosing the deprecated open-source version may create support and upgrade friction.
- High-volume team adoption or SLA support — No commercial support or SLA; 1,293 open issues and only critical security fixes signal inadequate engineering resourcing for production deployments.
License & commercial use
Dual-licensed under MIT and Apache 2.0 (both OSI-compliant permissive licenses). Commercial use is explicitly permitted under both licenses; no attribution requirement beyond license inclusion. AWS trademarks (Amazon, Amazon Q) are reserved and may not be used to imply AWS endorsement of derivative products.
MIT and Apache 2.0 are permissive OSI licenses that allow commercial use, modification, and redistribution without royalties or legal approval from AWS. However, AWS trademark restrictions apply: the 'Amazon Q' name and AWS logos cannot be used in derived products in ways that suggest AWS affiliation or endorsement. For production commercial products, verify trademark compliance and consider that AWS has deprecated this project in favor of Kiro CLI, which may create legal or reputational friction.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Stale |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Possible |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Project receives only critical security fixes, not regular updates. No formal security audit history is stated. As an agentic LLM tool, it processes and sends user input to external LLM services (AWS Bedrock or similar); data residency, encryption in transit, and LLM provider policies must be validated per your compliance requirements. Rust's memory safety reduces certain classes of vulnerability, but supply-chain risk (dependencies, build toolchain) and LLM prompt injection risks remain. For sensitive or regulated workloads, threat model with respect to data flowing to external LLM services.
Alternatives to consider
Kiro CLI
Official successor, closed-source, actively maintained by AWS with feature development and commercial support. Recommended if you require active maintenance and AWS backing.
GitHub Copilot CLI / Cursor
Closed-source, actively developed, broader IDE/editor integration, and strong adoption. Better for teams prioritizing editor-native experience over terminal-first workflows.
Continue.dev / Open-source agentic CLIs
Permissive open-source alternatives offering similar LLM-driven development patterns. Suitable if you require open-source, community-driven tooling without AWS trademark constraints.
Build on amazon-q-developer-cli with DEV.co software developers
This project is no longer actively maintained. Evaluate the closed-source Kiro CLI for production use, or explore open-source alternatives if you require permissive licensing and community support.
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amazon-q-developer-cli FAQ
Is Amazon Q CLI still maintained?
Can I use this commercially?
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How many unresolved issues are there?
Software development & web development with DEV.co
From first prototype to production, DEV.co delivers software development services around tools like amazon-q-developer-cli. Our software development agency staffs experienced software developers and web developers for custom software development, web development, integrations, and ongoing support across mcp servers and beyond.
Considering Amazon Q CLI for your team?
This project is no longer actively maintained. Evaluate the closed-source Kiro CLI for production use, or explore open-source alternatives if you require permissive licensing and community support.