Leveraging AI to automate Open-Source workflow application development

Campus Plus is excited to announce another National Industry PhD Program award. Carlos Kuhn from University of Canberra's Faculty of Science and Technology is collaborating with Emmanuelle Wintergerst from NetApp and PhD candidate Muntasir Adnan on a project creating an AI tool to automate open-source workflow application development.

AI code generation is a powerful tool that has potential to greatly increase developer productivity. However, existing applications are quite limited in the scope of what they can target. Focusing on workflow applications represents a step forward while still operating in a relatively constrained class of problems, enabling the development of a practical solution for an industry setting.

This collaboration deepens the connection between NetApp and UC. The two institutions have a history of collaborative efforts, particularly evidenced in the work between Instaclustr and the University of Canberra, including the establishment of an Instaclustr office on the university campus. NetApp Australia also employs UC students in a workplace integrated learning capacity alongside graduates and permanent employees.

NetApp blieves this project will positively impact the success of its "Instaclustr for Cadence" offering by significantly improving the productivity of developers using Cadence. UC will gain a field of experimentation for the uses and application of AI in the industrial context, and publication opportunities. Both parties will gain reputation and influence in the Open Source Software community. By combining the research capabilities of UC with NetApp industry expertise, this projects supports building up a future workforce with
skills and capabilities directly aligned with industry needs. This PhD project also aligns with NetApp’s historical commitment to Open Source technology, and more recent involvement with Machine Learning and AI, as well as UC’s goal of increased industry collaboration and commitment to contributing to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge.