An Empirical Study of Adoption of ChatGPT for Bug Fixing among Professional Developers

Abstract

ChatGPT is a powerful tool that assists software engineers in identifying and rectifying errors in code. One of its primary advantages is its ability to engage in natural language conversation with humans, which allows it to collaborate more closely with engineers in improving and optimizing the code. However, despite its potential advantages, software developers do not always utilize ChatGPT as a tool for bug fixing. In this study, we aim to examine the factors that influence the adoption of ChatGPT for bug fixing among professional software developers, based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) theory. To accomplish this, we conducted 50 semi-structured interviews with professional software developers and other stakeholders. Our findings indicate that the performance expectancy and effort expectancy of professional software developers, as well as social influence, facilitating conditions, data security, and trust are the key factors of adoption. These findings suggest that understanding these factors can be critical in promoting the adoption and use of ChatGPT in the software development industry.