repository-grounded agentic coding

Gold definitionUpdated Apr 2, 2026

Definition

Repository-grounded agentic coding involves Large Language Models (LLMs) acting as software agents that interact with existing code repositories and adhere to scaffold-specified, often heterogeneous, instructions and constraints. It aims to enable LLMs to perform complex coding tasks while maintaining compliance with project rules.

At a glance

Executive summary

Repository-grounded agentic coding enables AI models to act as software developers, working within existing codebases and following specific project rules. It aims to create AI assistants that can not only write code but also understand and adhere to complex instructions and existing project structures.

TL;DR

It's about making AI models smart enough to act like software engineers, working on real code projects and following all the rules and guidelines.

Key points

Transforms LLMs into software agents guided by coding scaffolds and repository context.
Solves the problem of enabling LLMs to perform complex, rule-bound coding tasks within existing codebases.
Used by researchers and ML engineers developing advanced AI coding assistants and autonomous agents.
Unlike basic code generation, it emphasizes persistent, heterogeneous instruction following and interaction with existing repositories.
Current research trend focuses on improving agents' compliance with complex instructions and closing the gap between task-solving and rule adherence.

Use cases

Automated bug fixing in large enterprise codebases, adhering to coding standards and test suites.
Feature development that integrates seamlessly into existing software architectures, respecting API contracts and design patterns.
Refactoring legacy code to meet modern best practices, while maintaining functional equivalence and project guidelines.
Generating documentation and tests that are consistent with the current project state and style guides.
Developing new modules that follow specific architectural constraints and integrate with existing components.

Also known as

Agentic coding, LLM coding agents, Scaffold-aware coding, AI software agents