Module Overview

The introduction lectures tries and identifies the specific requirements of a database application. These requirements (e.g., management of large and homogeneous collections of structured data) motivate the rest of the syllabus, while their initial discussion in class allows to introduce the basic concepts and to give the elementary definitions (e.g., hierarchy of storage, transaction).

Design is covered in a series of lectures that present and discuss data models in general, logical modeling with the relational data model, conceptual modeling with the entity-relationship model and as normalization with functional dependencies (second, third and Boyce-Codd normal forms). In these lectures and in the associated assignments and tutorials, the importance of physical and knowledge independence is emphasized. The importance of integrity constraints is underlined both in practice (SQL data definition language) and in theory (functional dependencies theory and normalization).

A primer in SQL programming is given as soon as the semester’s schedule allows. Then a series of lectures iteratively deepen the knowledge and understanding of SQL queries by studying not only SQL data manipulation advanced constructs but also the theoretical query languages domain relational calculus, t-uple relational calculus and algebra (thus highlighting the spectrum of choices for writing queries in SQL).

Transactions, stored procedures, triggers as well as the connectivity of SQL with programming language are also studied for the effective implementation of applications.

Plan:

Introduction

Relational Model

The Relational Model

Integrity Constraints

Relational Calculus

Logic and Calculus

T-uple Relational Calculus (TRC)

Domain Relational Calculus (DRC)

Relational Algebra

SQL

Data Definition Language

Data Manipulation Language

Updates

Simple Queries

Aggregate Queries

Nested Queries

SQL and Programming Languages

Procedural SQL

Database connectivity

Embedded SQL

Entity-Relationship Model

Entities and Relationships

Constraints

Mapping from ER diagrams to Relational Schema

Normalisation

Anomalies and Decomposition

Functional Dependencies

Normalisation

As a core module, this unit deploys conventional strategies for teaching and learning. It consists of lectures and tutorials.

Tutorials on practical topics are conducted in the laboratory in order to allow students to immediately verify their answer and experiment with a database management system. All tutorials are designed to require students' active participation.

All efforts are made to maintain a lively and interactive learning and teaching environment.

This is, in particular achieved by leveraging the available information and communication technologies. We make extensive use of NUS Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE). For instance we use online discussion forums for both administrative and technical discussions. We use the Gradiance online assignment for flexible and rigorous online continuous assessment.

Prerequisites: (CS1102 or CS1102C or CS1102S) and (CS1231 or MA1100)

Preclusions: CS2102S, IT2002