I Built RepoPilot: An AI-Powered Tool to Understand Codebases and Generate Tests

Description and use

RepoPilot speeds up understanding unfamiliar codebases and generating tests by combining AST parsing, dependency graphs, and context-aware LLMs, while still needing developer review.

Problem

Developers struggle to understand unfamiliar repositories, identify business logic, dependencies, and generate meaningful tests efficiently.

Outcome

RepoPilot enables rapid understanding of codebases and automated test generation, cutting down manual analysis time and improving test coverage, while still requiring developer review.

Workflow

• Connect a GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket repo via OAuth
• RepoPilot parses source files with TypeScript compiler API, Python AST, or Java comment‑aware scan
• AST data is used to build a repository dependency graph
• Context builder selects relevant files and dependencies for a target file or scenario
• Prompt builder formats the context for the LLM
• LLM generates tests or answers questions
• Developer reviews and executes generated tests

Evidence

RepoPilot analyzes the repository's source code, extracts structural information, and builds relationships between files and code entities.

Source

The generated tests still require developer review and execution. AI-generated tests are not automatically proof of correctness.

Source

Repository credentials must be handled carefully, with scoped access, secure storage, and protection against accidental exposure in logs or prompts.

Source