Navigating software development in the ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot era

Abstract

Generative AI (artificial intelligence) technologies using LLMs (large language models), such as ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, with the ability to create code, have the potential to change the software development landscape. Will this process be incremental, with software developers learning generative AI skills to supplement their existing skills, or will the process be more destructive, with the loss of large numbers of development jobs and a radical change in the responsibilities of the remaining developers? Given the rapid growth of AI capabilities, it is impossible to provide a crystal ball, but this article aims to give insight into the adoption of generative AI with LLMs in software development. The article gives an overview of the software development industry and the job functions of software developers. A literature review combined with a content analysis of online comments from developers gives insight into how generative AI implemented with LLMs is changing software development and how developers are responding to these changes. The article ties the academic and developer insights together into recommendations for software developers, and describes a CMM (capability maturity model) framework for assessing and improving LLM development usage.

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