RePro: Leveraging Large Language Models for Semi-Automated Reproduction of Networking Research Results

Yining Jiang, Wenyun Xu, Qingyu Song, Yuling Lin, Xuanhao Liu, Xiaoqiang Zheng, Qiang Su, Lizhao You, Lu Tang, Wangjian Feng, Linghe Kong, Qiao Xiang, Jiwu Shu

公開日: 2025/9/25

Abstract

Reproducing networking research is a critical but challenging task due to the scarcity of open-source code. While Large Language Models (LLMs) can automate code generation, current approaches lack the generalizability required for the diverse networking field. To address this, we propose RePro, a semi-automated reproduction framework that leverages advanced prompt engineering to reproduce network systems from their research papers. RePro combines few-shot in-context learning with Structured and Semantic Chain of Thought (SCoT/SeCoT) techniques to systematically translate a paper's description into an optimized, executable implementation. The framework operates through a three-stage pipeline: system description extraction, structural code generation, and code optimization. Our evaluation with five state-of-the-art LLMs across diverse network sub-domains demonstrates that RePro significantly reduces reproduction time compared to manual efforts while achieving comparable system performance, validating its effectiveness and efficiency.