According to certain embodiments, a software development system comprises memory and a processor operably coupled to the memory. The memory is operable to store a plurality of code templates, each coded according to syntax of a respective programming language. The processor is configured to receive a user instruction in natural language and perform processing of the user instruction to yield a structured user instruction. The processor is further configured to determine a pre-defined structure that maps to the structured user instruction, select a code template associated with the pre-defined structure that maps to the structured user instruction, and use the selected code template to generate software code that implements functionality of the structured user instruction according to the syntax of the respective programming language of the selected code template.