#205 - Measuring Code Quality in the Age of GenAI - Matt Van Itallie

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Ever wonder what a credit score for your codebase would look like?

In this episode, Matt Van Itallie, founder of Sema, discusses how his company is revolutionizing the way we assess and understand code quality, including the portion of GenAI usage. Learn about Sema’s innovative approach to technical due diligence and their comprehensive credit score system.

Key topics discussed:
- The concept of “code as data” and how it’s changing codebase evaluation
- Measuring and improving developer productivity in the age of GenAI
- The importance of the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM) in technical due diligence
- Why having 15-30% of your code originating from GenAI could be optimal
- The seven modules Sema uses to evaluate codebases, including GenAI usage, security, and team retention
- The CTO dashboard concept and its potential to transform software engineering metrics
- Why treating code as a craft is crucial for effective communication with non-technical stakeholders

Whether you’re a developer, engineering leader, or investor, this episode offers invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of software evaluation and the growing importance of quantitative metrics in technical due diligence.

Listen out for:
(02:05) Career Turning Points
(05:15) Treating Code as Data and a Craft
(11:09) Comprehensive Codebase Scans
(14:31) How to Explain Codebase Health
(20:31) Measuring & Improving Developer Productivity
(23:33) GenAI for Increasing Developer Effectiveness
(25:59) CTO Dashboard & The 7 Metrics
(29:55) Measuring GenAI Usage
(31:51) Healthy Dose of GenAI Usage
(36:50) Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM)™
(39:24) Technical Due Diligence
(45:18) Sema Adoption
(49:48) Integrating with Sema
(52:17) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

Matt Van Itallie's Bio
Matt Van Itallie is the Founder and CEO of Sema.

Formerly, Matt was an Operating Executive at Vista Equity Partners portfolio companies, Chief Analytics Officer for a $1BN operating organization, and a McKinsey consultant. Matt has a JD from Harvard Law School.

Sema is the leading provider of comprehensive codebase scans that assess the risks of software and tech-enabled businesses. They have analyzed over $1.6T of software enterprise value.

Sema is a leading expert on managing GenAI risks, with presentations to leading investors and operators across sectors. They are the inventors of the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM).

Follow Matt:
* LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/mvi
* Sema – semasoftware.com
* Comprehensive Codebase Scans – semasoftware.com/comprehensive-codebase-scans

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