Behavior-Driven Development
Behavior-Driven Development in the Age of AI-Assisted Programming | Current Topics
Context
Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) is a software development approach that uses structured, natural-language specifications (typically written in Gherkin language) to describe system behavior through concrete examples and scenarios. These specifications support shared understanding between developers, testers, and domain experts and can be directly linked to automated tests.
With the rise of “vibe coding” and Large Language Models (LLMs), software development is increasingly driven by informal prompts and rapid prototyping. While this enables fast development, it often lacks systematic specification and traceability. BDD offers a structured way to describe expected behavior and may serve as a high-quality input for AI-based code generation.
This project is conducted in collaboration between multiple universities (FHNW, the university of Sannio, Italy) and investigates how BDD practices can be combined with modern LLM-based development.