DATABASE A - E

The course covers the fundamental concepts of management and design of database systems.  Topics include data models (ER and relational); query languages (SQL); 
implementation techniques of database management systems (index structures and nd query processing); noSQL databases.
 

The learning objectives of the course, expressed according to the Dublin descriptors, are:

Knowledge and understanding

• To understand the main concepts of management and design of database systems
• To understand concepts and tools for querying databases of different nature (therefore with structured and unstructured data) and at different scales
• To understandi the role and the impact that data and their correct modeling may have on software applications using them

Applying knowledge and understanding

• To be able to design, starting from the requirements, a relational (and non) relational database, from a conceptual, logical and physical point of view.
• To be able to understand and use the SQL language to manage data and perform efficient queries.
• To be able to create and query unstructured databases (NoSQL) by manipulating JSON documents

Making judgements

• Analyzing functional and non-functional requirements
• Understanding the implications of design choices related to response times and alternative implementations
• Understanding the implications of design choices related to change management and maintenance of alternative software stacks
• Understanding the performance issues associated to alternative DBMS

Communication skills 

• Preparing database specification documents, addressing the specificity of conceptual and logical modellation 
• Explaining the motivations behind specific design choices

Learning skills

• Learning how to use the tecnologies for the development of databases and their scalability 
• Learning how to compare alternative projects schemese from different perspectives
• Learning to recognize design principles underlying alternative modellation development strategies

Recommended.

Models and Languages for Database Management

• Fundamentals of Database Management Systems (DBMS)
• Relational databases:
  • Relational Model: basic concepts, integrity* constraints and keys*.
  • SQL language: data definition*, data modification*, queries*, views*, transactions*.
  • Advanced SQL: triggers*, procedures* and assertions
  • An example of relational DMBS: MySQL.
• Database NoSQL:
  • JSON*
  • ACID vs BASE*
  • "Scheme-less"* models
  • NoSQL DB types*: key-value, document-based, column-based and graph-based
  • CAP Theorem*
  • Overview of NoSQL frameworks: MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra, HBase, Neo4j
• MongoDB*: Selectors, Search, Sort, Pipeline, Grouping

Design of databases

• Conceptual design: E/R model*, conceptual design strategies*, quality verification.
• Logical design: restructuring of the E / R schemes,* translation into the relational model*.

 * Topics to know and understand to pass the exam.

1. Basi di dati - 4/ed, Modelli e linguaggi di interrogazione. Di: Paolo Atzeni, Stefano Ceri, Piero Fraternali, Stefano Paraboschi e Riccardo Torlone, Casa editrice: Mc-Graw-HIll
2. Teaching materials provided by the instructor

The exam consists of two tests to be taken in the lab covering (1) schema implementation in SQL and implementation of various queries and (2) the design of a database, starting with a set of requirements and load data at runtime. Each test will affect 50% of the final course grade.

The test will be evaluated on the ability to analyze the problem and justify the design choices, the correctness of the proposed E/R schema, and the correctness and completeness of the implementation in SQL.