DATABASE SYSTEMS - PART 1

The course is one of the basic activities of the Bachelor's Degree in Informatics and its aim is to present the fundamental concepts of databases and the techniques for database design. Students will be given the opportunity of experimenting the notions acquired by using relational database systems and the SQL language. The course finally provides the main notions needed in order to develop applications which use databases, with special interest in web applications, focusing on communication mechanisms between programming languages and Database Management Systems.

Knowledge and understanding:
- knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts of databases;
- understanding the feasibility and complexity of creating a database and ability of selecting appropriate methods for analysis and modeling;
- knowledge of methodologies for the design of databases, both for building new systems, and for maintaining existing ones.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- logical-deductive and problem-solving skills;
- ability of formalizing, modeling and specifying real problems;
- ability of developing and implementing software projects using state-of-the-art technologies.

Communication skills
Being able to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

It is useful to have a basic knowledge of programming.

Data Base (DB) Management Systems: Introduction and Functionalities
Conceptual modelling
The Relational Data Model
From conceptual schemas to relational schemas
SQL Language
Laboratory to experiment SQL by using PostgreSQL

A. Albano, G. Ghelli, R. Orsini. Fondamenti di Basi di Dati. Zanichelli,
2005. (http://www.fondamentidibasididati.it/ )

The exam consits of a written test, a project and an oral test. The written test lasts three hours and it is composed by five exercises aimed at verifying:
1) the capability to design the conceptual schema of a database and the acquisition of the methodology for transforming the conceptual schema into a relational schema,
2) the ability to query in SQL,
3) knowledge of the concepts and algorithms related to the theory of normalization,
4) the ability to administrate a database by defining triggers, procedures and by adopting adequate security policies,
5) the ability to write application code which interacts with a database and to represent knowledge by using non relational models.

The written test may be replaced by successful completion of two intermediate examinations. The first one checks skills 1) and 2) and the second one evaluates the knowledge concerning 3), 4) and 5). During the written test is not allowed the use of books, notes, electronic media.

The project consists of a simple web application using a relational database. The project will be discussed with the teacher.

Chalk lectures, slides and lab activities.

Italian

written and oral