ChatDev
Type: full-code · Vendor: OpenBMB / Tsinghua KEG · Language: Python · License: Apache-2.0 · Status: active · Status in practice: emerging
Communicative multi-agent framework for software development that runs a waterfall SDLC (design → coding → testing → documentation) through role-specialised LLM agents (CEO, CPO, CTO, Programmer, Reviewer, Tester) chained via natural-language conversations.
Description. ChatDev (2.0 now branded DevAll) is OpenBMB's multi-agent framework that simulates an entire virtual software company. Each phase of the waterfall — high-level design, requirements analysis, coding, testing, documentation — is delegated to a pair of agents in conversation (e.g. CTO ↔ Programmer for coding). The framework is built on CAMEL-style role-playing dialogues and produces a fully-runnable software project as output, complete with code, tests, and docs. ChatDev is one of the most-cited Chinese-origin multi-agent frameworks and the canonical reference for role-specialised SDLC pipelines.
Agent loop shape. Waterfall pipeline. A configuration file enumerates phases (DemandAnalysis, LanguageChoose, Coding, CodeReviewComment, CodeReviewModification, Test, EnvironmentDoc, Manual) and assigns each phase a pair of role-playing agents. Each phase runs as a multi-turn role-playing dialogue between the two assigned agents (e.g. Tester ↔ Programmer) until a phase-specific termination criterion is met. Outputs (code, docs) accumulate in a shared workspace passed across phases.
Primary use cases
- research on multi-agent software development with role specialisation
- rapid generation of small-to-medium software projects from a single prompt
- study of communicative-dehallucination protocols between paired LLM agents
- educational demonstration of SOP-driven multi-agent collaboration
Key concepts
- Waterfall SDLC phases → plan-and-execute — Design → Coding → Testing → Documentation as a hard-coded pipeline.
- Role-playing pairs → camel-role-playing — Each phase is a dialogue between two role-specialised agents.
- Communicative dehallucination → communicative-dehallucination — The reviewer-programmer dialogue surfaces hallucinations through mutual cross-check.
Patterns this full-code implements —
- ·CAMEL Role-Playing
ChatDev is built on CAMEL role-playing dialogues.
- ★★Role Assignment
- ★Communicative Dehallucination
Reviewer ↔ Programmer cycle.
- ★★Plan-and-Execute
Waterfall phases are a fixed plan.
- ★Inter-Agent Communication
- ★Code-as-Action Agent
- ★★Supervisor
CEO role coordinates phase progress.
- ★★Orchestrator-Workers
Phase-level orchestration over role agents.
- ★★Tool Use
Neighbourhood
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Alternatives & relatives
- full-code · framework
MetaGPT
Both are Chinese multi-agent SDLC frameworks with role-specialised agents; MetaGPT emphasises SOP encoding.
- full-code · framework
OpenMANUS is from the same FoundationAgents lineage as MetaGPT.
- full-code · framework
AutoGen
AutoGen GroupChat is the Western analogue for role-based multi-agent collaboration.
- full-code · framework
CrewAI
CrewAI is the production-oriented multi-agent peer.
- full-code · framework
CAMEL-AI
ChatDev is built on CAMEL role-playing dialogues as its substrate.
Listed as alternative by (1)
Provenance
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- Verification status: needs-verification