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Main Authors: Akhoroz, Mehmet, Yildirim, Caglar
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.16508
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author Akhoroz, Mehmet
Yildirim, Caglar
author_facet Akhoroz, Mehmet
Yildirim, Caglar
contents Conversational AI interfaces powered by large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used as coding assistants. However, questions remain about how programmers interact with LLM-based conversational agents, the challenges they encounter, and the factors influencing adoption. This study investigates programmers' usage patterns, perceptions, and interaction strategies when engaging with LLM-driven coding assistants. Through a survey, participants reported both the benefits, such as efficiency and clarity of explanations, and the limitations, including inaccuracies, lack of contextual awareness, and concerns about over-reliance. Notably, some programmers actively avoid LLMs due to a preference for independent learning, distrust in AI-generated code, and ethical considerations. Based on our findings, we propose design guidelines for improving conversational coding assistants, emphasizing context retention, transparency, multimodal support, and adaptability to user preferences. These insights contribute to the broader understanding of how LLM-based conversational agents can be effectively integrated into software development workflows while addressing adoption barriers and enhancing usability.
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institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Conversational AI as a Coding Assistant: Understanding Programmers' Interactions with and Expectations from Large Language Models for Coding
Akhoroz, Mehmet
Yildirim, Caglar
Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
Conversational AI interfaces powered by large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used as coding assistants. However, questions remain about how programmers interact with LLM-based conversational agents, the challenges they encounter, and the factors influencing adoption. This study investigates programmers' usage patterns, perceptions, and interaction strategies when engaging with LLM-driven coding assistants. Through a survey, participants reported both the benefits, such as efficiency and clarity of explanations, and the limitations, including inaccuracies, lack of contextual awareness, and concerns about over-reliance. Notably, some programmers actively avoid LLMs due to a preference for independent learning, distrust in AI-generated code, and ethical considerations. Based on our findings, we propose design guidelines for improving conversational coding assistants, emphasizing context retention, transparency, multimodal support, and adaptability to user preferences. These insights contribute to the broader understanding of how LLM-based conversational agents can be effectively integrated into software development workflows while addressing adoption barriers and enhancing usability.
title Conversational AI as a Coding Assistant: Understanding Programmers' Interactions with and Expectations from Large Language Models for Coding
topic Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.16508