Recent advancements in large language models have significantly expedited the process of generating front-end code. This allows users to rapidly prototype user interfaces and ideate through code, a process known as exploratory programming. However, existing LLM code-generation tools focus more on technical implementation details rather than finding the right design given a particular problem. We present DynEx, an LLM-based method for design exploration in accelerated exploratory programming. DynEx uses LLMs to guide users through a structured Design Matrix to explore the design space before dynamic iterative implementation. It also introduces a technique to self-invoke generative AI, enabling the creation of a diverse suite of applications. A user study of 10 experts found that DynEx increased design exploration and enabled the creation of more complex and varied prototypes compared to a Claude Artifact baseline. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of design exploration for exploratory programming.

翻译：近年来，大型语言模型的进展显著加快了前端代码的生成过程，使得用户能够快速原型化用户界面并通过代码进行构思，这一过程被称为探索式编程。然而，现有的LLM代码生成工具更侧重于技术实现细节，而非针对特定问题寻找合适的设计。本文提出DynEx，一种基于LLM的加速探索式编程设计探索方法。DynEx利用LLM引导用户通过结构化设计矩阵在设计空间中进行探索，然后进行动态迭代实现。该方法还引入了一种自调用生成式AI的技术，能够创建多样化的应用程序套件。一项针对10位专家的用户研究表明，与Claude Artifact基线相比，DynEx增加了设计探索的广度，并支持创建更复杂、更多样化的原型。最后，本文讨论了设计探索对探索式编程的启示意义。