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Compatibility

Kiro

Set up Mouse with Kiro: configuration, steering instructions, and tips for long conversations

Prerequisites

  • Kiro (latest version recommended)
  • Node.js 20.x or later

Installing Mouse

  1. Open the Extensions panel in Kiro (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
  2. Search for Mouse by HIC AI, Inc.
  3. Click Install
  4. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) and run Mouse: Initialize Workspace

This creates a .hic directory in your project and generates the MCP configuration file at .kiro/settings/mcp.json.

Configuration

The workspace initialization creates the following configuration automatically. If you need to configure it manually, create .kiro/settings/mcp.json with:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hic_local": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["./.hic/mcp/src/core/server.js"],
      "env": {
        "HIC_AGENT_ADAPTER": "kiro",
        "HIC_ALLOWED_DIRECTORIES": "./"
      }
    }
  }
}

Steering Instructions

Kiro's built-in file-editing tools cannot be disabled. To ensure Kiro uses Mouse tools for all file-editing operations, add the following to your steering instructions at .kiro/steering/:

Always use Mouse (hic_local MCP) tools for all file navigation and editing operations. Do not use built-in file-editing tools.

IMPORTANT

Unlike other clients that inject user-provided system instructions after each turn, Kiro only injects steering instructions at the beginning of each conversation. In longer conversations, Kiro may gradually revert to using its built-in tools. If this happens, remind Kiro to use Mouse tools.

Verifying the Connection

Ask your AI assistant:

"Use Mouse's get_file_metadata tool to check the metadata of any file in this workspace."

If the assistant successfully calls the tool and returns file metadata, Mouse is working correctly. Check the status bar; it should show Mouse: Trial or Mouse: Licensed.