​Automated Repository Maintenance: Leveraging LLMs to Update Code; ​A Virtue Ethics Analysis of the Boeing 737 Disaster​ 7 views

​The relationship between my technical and STS research projects lies in their shared​ focus on responsible engineering practice, particularly on how engineers design tools and​ ​systems that others depend on. In my technical project, I designed an automated repository​ ​maintenance system, a software tool intended to foster long-term reliability in software​ ​development. Similarly, my STS research paper examined the ethical responsibilities of​ ​engineers through a case study of Boeing’s 737 MAX crashes. Both projects explore the theme​ ​of accountability in technological design and maintenance: while the technical project addresses​ ​accountability through automation and precision, the STS project investigates the moral​ ​dimension of accountability through the framework of virtue ethics. Together, they reveal how​ ​maintaining technical integrity depends as much on ethical character as on technical skill.​ ​ In the technical project, I developed a conceptual design for an automated repository​ maintenance machine. This system scans a GitHub repository, identifies the external libraries it​ depends on, and autonomously checks for updated versions of those libraries. If updates have​ ​occurred, an LLM analyzes affected code segments and adjusts syntax accordingly. The goal is​ to automate one of the most error-prone and time-intensive tasks in software maintenance, and​ ensure that projects remain secure, up to date, and easy to maintain. By reducing the cognitive​ ​and logistical burden on developers, the tool aspires to enhance long-term software reliability​ ​and resilience.​ ​My STS research paper focuses on the ethical failures underlying the Boeing 737 MAX​ disasters, analyzing the actions of Boeing engineers through the lens of virtue ethics. Using this​ framework, I argue that the engineers involved failed to uphold three key virtues essential to​ ​their professional responsibilities: commitment to quality, commitment to objectivity, and​ perseverance. The technical decisions made during the 737 MAX’s development, especially prioritizing cost and schedule over robust safety evaluation, reflect shortcomings in these virtues.​ This lapse in moral character led to disasters with tragic consequences. My research underscores​ that engineering excellence is inseparable from engineering virtues, as failing to embody​ ​engineering virtues can cause catastrophes.​ ​Working on these two projects concurrently deepened my appreciation for the​ ​interdependence of technical robustness and ethical responsibility. Studying Boeing’s moral​ ​failings made me realize how design decisions carry ethical weight not only in the present, but​ also in the future. Specifically, code that works today may cause issues in the future unless its​ ​behavior is properly understood under all possible conditions. This insight influenced the design​ of my automated repository maintainer, which emphasizes the importance of code readability​ and traceability. By indexing and labeling code segments according to their purpose and​ dependencies, the system helps ensure that function is preserved over time. In summary, working​ on both my STS research paper and my technical project reinforced my understanding that​ engineering reliability and ethical responsibility are inseparable.​

BS (Bachelor of Science)

Software; Technical Lag; Boeing 737

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Technical Advisor: Briana Morrison STS Advisor: Benjamin Laugelli Technical Team Members: Flavien Moise

English

All rights reserved by the author (no additional license for public reuse)

2026-05-06