Software engineering is a domain characterized by intricate decision-making
processes, often relying on nuanced intuition and consultation. Recent
advancements in deep learning have started to revolutionize software
engineering practices through elaborate designs implemented at various stages
of software development. In this paper, we present an innovative paradigm that
leverages large language models (LLMs) throughout the entire software
development process, streamlining and unifying key processes through natural
language communication, thereby eliminating the need for specialized models at
each phase. At the core of this paradigm lies ChatDev, a virtual chat-powered
software development company that mirrors the established waterfall model,
meticulously dividing the development process into four distinct chronological
stages: designing, coding, testing, and documenting. Each stage engages a team
of agents, such as programmers, code reviewers, and test engineers, fostering
collaborative dialogue and facilitating a seamless workflow. The chat chain
acts as a facilitator, breaking down each stage into atomic subtasks. This
enables dual roles, allowing for proposing and validating solutions through
context-aware communication, leading to efficient resolution of specific
subtasks. The instrumental analysis of ChatDev highlights its remarkable
efficacy in software generation, enabling the completion of the entire software
development process in under seven minutes at a cost of less than one dollar.
It not only identifies and alleviates potential vulnerabilities but also
rectifies potential hallucinations while maintaining commendable efficiency and
cost-effectiveness. The potential of ChatDev unveils fresh possibilities for
integrating LLMs into the realm of software development.

本文提出一种利用大型语言模型 (LLMs) 改变软件开发过程的创新性范例，能够通过自然语言沟通来简化和统一关键流程，进而在不需要在每个阶段进行专门软件领域模型开发的情况下，实现整个软件过程的快速生成。