Database Systems: A Pragmatic Approach

This  book provides a concise but comprehensive guide to the disciplines of  database design, construction, implementation, and management. Based on  the authors’ professional experience in the software engineering and IT  industries before making a career switch to academia, the text stresses  sound database design as a necessary precursor to successful development  and administration of database systems. The discipline of database  systems design and management is discussed within the context of the  bigger picture of software engineering. Students are led to understand  from the outset of the text that a database is a critical component of a  software infrastructure, and that proper database design and management  is integral to the success of a software system. Additionally, students  are led to appreciate the huge value of a properly designed database to  the success of a business enterprise.

The text was  written for three target audiences. It is suited for undergraduate  students of computer science and related disciplines who are pursuing a  course in database systems, graduate students who are pursuing an  introductory course to database, and practicing software engineers and  information technology (IT) professionals who need a quick reference on  database design.

Database Systems: A Pragmatic Approach, 3rd Edition discusses concepts, principles, design, implementation, and management  issues related to database systems. Each chapter is organized into  brief, reader-friendly, conversational sections with itemization of  salient points to be remembered. This pragmatic approach includes  adequate treatment of database theory and practice based on strategies  that have been tested, proven, and refined over several years. Features  of the third edition include:

• Short paragraphs that express the salient aspects of each subject
• Bullet points itemizing important points for easy memorization
• Fully revised and updated diagrams and figures to illustrate concepts to enhance the student’s understanding
• Real-world examples
• Original methodologies applicable to database design
• Step-by-step, student-friendly guidelines for solving generic database systems problems
• Opening chapter overviews and concluding chapter summaries
• Discussion  of DBMS alternatives such as the Entity–Attributes–Value model, NoSQL  databases, database-supporting frameworks, and other burgeoning database  technologies
• A chapter with sample assignment questions and case studies

This  textbook may be used as a one-semester or two-semester course in  database systems, augmented by a DBMS (preferably Oracle). After its  usage, students will come away with a firm grasp of the design,  development, implementation, and management of a database system.