A Tertiary Review of Large Language Model-Based Code Generating Tasks: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2605.25536v1
• Date: Mon, 25 May 2026 07:49:23 GMT
• Title: A Tertiary Review of Large Language Model-Based Code Generating Tasks: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions
• Abstract summary: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly applied to code-generating tasks (CGTs) in software engineering.<n>This study consolidates secondary evidence on LLM-based CGTs, synthesizing the publication landscape, effects, scenarios, integration challenges, and future research directions.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: Context. Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly applied to code-generating tasks (CGTs) in software engineering. While reported results are promising, the broader effects of such application and their integration into real-world development remain insufficiently understood with existing tertiary studies provide little in this area. Objective. This tertiary study consolidates secondary evidence on LLM-based CGTs, synthesizing the publication landscape, effects, scenarios, integration challenges, and future research directions. Method. Following systematic review guidelines, we searched in related digital libraries, complemented by backward-and-forward snowballing and screening step. Study quality was assessed and extraction reliability was audited with inter-rater agreement statistics. Evidence was synthesized using SWEBOK knowledge areas and the HELM framework. Results. We identify 30 secondary studies published between 2017-2025, with rapid growth since 2023. Accuracy seems strong on benchmarks but weakly supported for real-world generalization; robustness is fragile across tasks and configurations; efficiency constraints are pervasive; toxicity and bias are under-reported. Dominant challenges concern economic feasibility, evaluation validity, and socio-technical integration. Future directions suggest domain-aware model improvement and the need for holistic, standardized evaluation. Conclusion. LLM-based CGTs represent a fast-maturing yet unevenly evaluated research area, highlighting the need for domain-aware model improvements and holistic, standardized evaluation, addressing efficiency and associated costs.

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