RepGen: Reproducing Deep Learning Bugs through Context-Aware Code Generation and Verification

Mehil B Shah, Mohammad Masudur Rahman, Foutse Khomh

Reproducing deep learning (DL) bugs is challenging because failures can involve source code, models, data, dependencies, and execution environments. Incomplete bug reports further complicate reproduction by omitting essential details. We present RepGen, an open-source tool for reproducing DL bugs through context-aware code generation and iterative verification. Given a bug report and repository, RepGen explores the codebase to build a learning-enhanced context, develop a reproduction plan, and generate candidate scripts. It refines candidates using static checks and LLM feedback to improve their correctness and relevance. When enabled, the tool prepares the execution environment, runs the script, and assesses its output against the reported failure. RepGen provides an interactive command-line interface supporting local and hosted LLMs, configurable execution budgets, and inspectable artifacts, along with a GitHub Action for automated issue processing. The underlying approach reproduced 85 of 106 real-world DL bugs (80.19%). A controlled study with 27 developers showed a 23.35% improvement in reproduction success and a 56.8% reduction in reproduction time.