# Silicon for Analytics Engineers: Semantic Layer and BI as Code

URL: https://meetsilicon.com/solutions/analytics-engineers/

> Define metrics once in YAML next to your dbt models, review dashboards in pull requests, and give the business AI answers built on your definitions.

Solutions / Analytics engineers
# Metrics defined once and reviewed like code
Your metrics live next to your dbt models, your dashboards live in git, and every AI answer is built from the definitions you approved.
Book a demo
30-minute demo with the founder
Works with the stack you already run.
dbt
Snowflake
BigQuery
Databricks
Redshift
Postgres
ClickHouse
GitHub
Slack
dbt
Snowflake
BigQuery
Databricks
Redshift
Postgres
ClickHouse
GitHub
Slack
dbt
Snowflake
BigQuery
Databricks
Redshift
Postgres
ClickHouse
GitHub
Slack
Problem
## Sound familiar?
- 01 Revenue has four definitions across four dashboards.
- 02 Dashboard changes happen in a UI with no review or history.
- 03 AI tools ignore your models and query raw tables.
Features
## What changes with Silicon
01
### Metrics in YAML
Define metrics in dbt column meta or Silicon YAML. Every chart, dashboard and AI answer uses them.
Semantic layer -> 02
### Dashboards in pull requests
Charts and dashboards are versioned files. Change them in a branch, preview, review and merge.
Dashboards as code -> 03
### AI that respects your work
The AI analyst answers from your semantic layer and shows the SQL and definitions it used.
AI analyst ->
How it works
## A day with Silicon
- 10:02 Adds activation_rate as a ratio metric in fct_signups.yml.
- 10:15 Updates the growth dashboard in the same branch.
- 10:40 Teammate reviews the preview and approves.
- 11:05 Growth asks the AI analyst about activation. It uses the new metric.
FAQ
## Questions, answered
### How do I define metrics? +
In your dbt YAML under a column's meta.metrics, or in standalone Silicon YAML model files if you don't use dbt.
### Can I preview dashboard changes before merging? +
Yes. Changes made in a branch can be previewed and reviewed before they reach production.
### What happens if someone edits a dashboard in the UI? +
Version history keeps every change (30 days on Team, 60 on Pro), so you can see who changed what and restore earlier versions.
## Silicon for other roles
- Data engineers ->
- Data analysts ->
- Growth & product ->
- Business teams ->
## Tell us where your data lives today.
Book 30 minutes with the founder. Tell us where your data is today, and see Silicon running on sample data.
Book a demo
30-minute demo with the founder