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Databases 2
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Level 3, 10 credit module
Prerequisite: 06-19321 Software System
Components 2 (or some other introductory
course in databases)
2 lectures & 1 exercise class / week
Weekly exercise sheets [unassessed; but IF
YOU DO THEM you receive feedback on these]
What is covered
1. Querying a relational database with SQL
2. Modelling a real-world situation with (extended)
entity-relationship diagrams
* ER modelling
* Extended ER diagrams
* Translating EER diagrams to tables
(SQL CREATE statements)
What is covered (cont'd)
3. Logical analysis of database designs
* Relational algebra
* Functional dependencies
* Normalisation
What is covered (cont'd)
4. Relational Database Management System
(RDBMS) implementation technology
* File organisation and retrieval
* Indexes
* Algorithms for relational operators
* Query Execution
* Query Optimisation
* Transactions
Assessment
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20% continuous assessment
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3 in-class assessed tests, 50 mins each
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Announced ~1week in advance
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Marks made available via the web
80% written exam in May
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Undergrads (BA, Bsc, BEng or MEng) can NOT
resit the exam
Msc have one resit opportunity
What you will learn
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Use SQL for querying a relational database
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We use PostgreSQL – open source db
management system
Design a relational database using extended
entity-relationship diagrams
Translate EER diagrams → SQL CREATE
statements; SQL → relational algebra
Analyse a relational database design using
functional dependencies & perform transforms
towards Boyce-Codd Normal Form
What you will learn (cont'd)
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Understand database implementation principles
& their impact on query evaluation efficiency
Structure a series of queries as transactions, &
understand the impact this has on database
behaviour & performance
What is expected of you
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Regular attendance at lectures
Coming prepared (with notes) for the exercise
class so you can complete a large fraction of
exercise in the class
Collecting feedback promptly & reviewing any
mistakes you might have made
Approaching me in office hours to clear up any
questions promptly
Have fun in learning!