Understanding LLM-Centric Challenges for Deep Learning Frameworks: An Empirical Analysis

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mu, Yanzhou, Wang, Rong, Zhai, Juan, Fang, Chunrong, Chen, Xiang, Wu, Jiacong, Guo, An, Shen, Jiawei, Li, Bingzhuo, Chen, Zhenyu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866913994921476096
author Mu, Yanzhou
Wang, Rong
Zhai, Juan
Fang, Chunrong
Chen, Xiang
Wu, Jiacong
Guo, An
Shen, Jiawei
Li, Bingzhuo
Chen, Zhenyu
author_facet Mu, Yanzhou
Wang, Rong
Zhai, Juan
Fang, Chunrong
Chen, Xiang
Wu, Jiacong
Guo, An
Shen, Jiawei
Li, Bingzhuo
Chen, Zhenyu
contents Large language models (LLMs) have driven significant progress across a wide range of real-world applications. Realizing such models requires substantial system-level support. Deep learning (DL) frameworks provide this foundation by enabling efficient model construction, distributed execution, and optimized deployment. The large parameter scale and extended execution cycles impose exacting demands on deep learning frameworks, particularly in terms of scalability, stability, and efficiency. Therefore, poor usability, limited functionality, and subtle bugs in DL frameworks may hinder development efficiency and cause severe failures or resource waste. However, a fundamental question has not been thoroughly investigated in previous studies, i.e., what challenges do DL frameworks face in supporting LLMs? To answer this question, we analyze issue reports from three major DL frameworks (i.e., MindSpore, PyTorch, and TensorFlow) and eight associated LLM toolkits such as Megatron. Based on a manual review of these reports, we construct a taxonomy that captures LLM-centric framework bugs, user requirements, and user questions. We then refine and enrich this taxonomy through interviews with 11 LLM users and eight DL framework developers. Based on the constructed taxonomy and findings summarized from interviews, our study further reveals key technical challenges and mismatches between LLM user needs and developer priorities.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_13114
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Understanding LLM-Centric Challenges for Deep Learning Frameworks: An Empirical Analysis
Mu, Yanzhou
Wang, Rong
Zhai, Juan
Fang, Chunrong
Chen, Xiang
Wu, Jiacong
Guo, An
Shen, Jiawei
Li, Bingzhuo
Chen, Zhenyu
Software Engineering
Large language models (LLMs) have driven significant progress across a wide range of real-world applications. Realizing such models requires substantial system-level support. Deep learning (DL) frameworks provide this foundation by enabling efficient model construction, distributed execution, and optimized deployment. The large parameter scale and extended execution cycles impose exacting demands on deep learning frameworks, particularly in terms of scalability, stability, and efficiency. Therefore, poor usability, limited functionality, and subtle bugs in DL frameworks may hinder development efficiency and cause severe failures or resource waste. However, a fundamental question has not been thoroughly investigated in previous studies, i.e., what challenges do DL frameworks face in supporting LLMs? To answer this question, we analyze issue reports from three major DL frameworks (i.e., MindSpore, PyTorch, and TensorFlow) and eight associated LLM toolkits such as Megatron. Based on a manual review of these reports, we construct a taxonomy that captures LLM-centric framework bugs, user requirements, and user questions. We then refine and enrich this taxonomy through interviews with 11 LLM users and eight DL framework developers. Based on the constructed taxonomy and findings summarized from interviews, our study further reveals key technical challenges and mismatches between LLM user needs and developer priorities.
title Understanding LLM-Centric Challenges for Deep Learning Frameworks: An Empirical Analysis
topic Software Engineering
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.13114