“GenLine and GenForm: Two Tools for Interacting With Generative Language Models in a Code Editor”, Ellen Jiang, Edwin Toh, Alejandra Molina, Aaron Donsbach, Carrie Cai, Michael Terry2021-09-07 (Codex, LaMDA)⁠:

[short preliminary version of Jiang et al 2022] A large, generative language model’s [LaMDA] output can be influenced through well-designed prompts, or text-based inputs that establish textual patterns that the model replicates in its output.⁶ These capabilities create new opportunities for novel interactions with large, generative language models.

We present a macro system with two tools that allow users to invoke language model prompts as macros in a code editor:

• GenLine allows users to execute macros inline as they write code in the editor (eg. “Make an OK button” produces the equivalent HTML).

• GenForm provides a form-like interface where the user provides input that is then transformed into multiple pieces of output at the same time (eg. a description of web code is transformed into HTML, CSS, and JavaScript).

[Keywords: macros, generative models, prompt programming, code synthesis]