Self-healing code, powered by large language models (LLMs), is an emerging concept in software development. LLMs have the ability to improve their output through self-reflection and can produce more accurate and pleasing results when fed their own responses. Applying this concept to software development and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) can lead to better outcomes. However, there are challenges such as factual errors and concerns about the quality of code generated by AI. The increasing use of LLMs in code creation poses challenges in code review, quality control, and technical debt accumulation. AI can assist in code review and suggest improvements, but human intervention and best practices are still essential. The future of software development lies in finding a balance between automation and manual intervention, and in guiding AI to enhance code quality and productivity.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-healing code | Automation of code creation, maintenance, and improvement | Code will be able to automatically detect and fix errors | Developers’ desire to automate solutions and improve code quality |
| More code requires more quality control | Increased code generation and technical debt | Need for software engineering best practices to ensure quality code | Concerns about the quality of code generated by AI |
| AI suggests code edits | ML-powered code suggestions and edits | Reduced time spent on code reviews and increased productivity | Improvement of code review process and productivity |
| AI improves code efficiency | AI reviews and suggests changes to old code | Improved code efficiency and adherence to best practices | Automation of code improvement and adherence to best practices |
| AI assists in crafting questions | AI suggests improvements to question titles and code formatting | Enhanced quality and accuracy of questions on Stack Overflow | Improvement of question quality and knowledge exchange |
| AI in software development | Augmentation of developer skills, not replacement | AI tools enhance existing skills but don’t replace humans | Augmentation and enhancement of developer skills with AI technology |