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Ironies of Programming Automation: Exploring the Experience of Code Synthesis via Large Language Models

McCabe, Alan LU ; Björkman, Moa ; Engström, Joel ; Kuang, Peng LU orcid ; Söderberg, Emma LU orcid and Church, Luke LU (2024) 8th International Conference on the Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming p.12-21
Abstract
The widespread availability of large language models (LLMs) has presented the opportunity for novice programmers to make use of them for the purpose of understanding and synthesising code. In this paper, we discuss a small pilot study intended to explore the user experience of doing so in a limited way, and the attitudes of a group of novice programmers towards this style of programming. We also draw parallels to the seminal work of Lisanne Bainbridge, and discuss the way in which her "ironies of automation" are also present when attempting to automate the activity of programming.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Programming '24: Companion : Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming - Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming
pages
12 - 21
publisher
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
conference name
8th International Conference on the Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming
conference location
Lund, Sweden
conference dates
2024-03-11 - 2024-03-14
external identifiers
  • scopus:85199036149
ISBN
9798400706349
DOI
10.1145/3660829.3660835
project
Adaptive Developer Tools
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
084bc1f1-5579-46e9-8c61-6efd26887871
date added to LUP
2024-10-02 09:53:48
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:02:17
@inproceedings{084bc1f1-5579-46e9-8c61-6efd26887871,
  abstract     = {{The widespread availability of large language models (LLMs) has presented the opportunity for novice programmers to make use of them for the purpose of understanding and synthesising code. In this paper, we discuss a small pilot study intended to explore the user experience of doing so in a limited way, and the attitudes of a group of novice programmers towards this style of programming. We also draw parallels to the seminal work of Lisanne Bainbridge, and discuss the way in which her "ironies of automation" are also present when attempting to automate the activity of programming.}},
  author       = {{McCabe, Alan and Björkman, Moa and Engström, Joel and Kuang, Peng and Söderberg, Emma and Church, Luke}},
  booktitle    = {{Programming '24: Companion : Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming}},
  isbn         = {{9798400706349}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{12--21}},
  publisher    = {{Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)}},
  title        = {{Ironies of Programming Automation: Exploring the Experience of Code Synthesis via Large Language Models}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3660829.3660835}},
  doi          = {{10.1145/3660829.3660835}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}