Introduction to Database Systems (CSG130)

CSG130: Introduction to Database Systems (Fall 2006)

NEWS

Slides: Intro, Chp7: internet application, Notes on ASP.NET, Chp2: ER Diagram, Chp3: Relational Model, Chp19: Normal Forms, Chp4: Relational Algebra, Chp5: SQL, Chp8&9: Storage, Chp10: B+-tree, Min-Dist Optimal Location Query.
Grade Sheet.

Instructor

Donghui Zhang

Office Hours: Wednesday 3-6pm.
Office: 478WVH
Phone: x2177
Email: donghui AT ccs.neu.edu

TA

Da Lin
Office Hours: MW 4:30pm-5:30pm.
Office: 466WVH
Email: danielin AT ccs.neu.edu

Lecture: Wednesday 6-9pm, 106 WVG.

Overview

The purpose of this course is to introduce technologies for developing web database applications. We will use ASP.NET. As foundations to database design, ER model and relational model will be discussed. To express database queries, relational algebra and SQL will be studied in-depth. Finally, we marginally touch upon one database kernel technique: namely the B+-tree indexing. (More database kernel techniques will be discussed in the second database course -- CSG131 to be offered in the Spring semester.)

Grading

Quizzes 30%
Project 30%
Final 40%

Textbook

Textbook: Database Management Systems, 3rd edition, Ramakrishnan and Gehrke, published by McGraw-Hill Company, ISBN 0-07-246563-8.
TEXTBOOK HOMEPAGE: a very important site you should study. You can download the lecture slides, study sqlplus, etc.

Presentation

You are recommended to give a 10-minute presentation on any database-related stuff. Some examples are: your experience in developing a database application; a recent XML paper; clustering technique in the data-mining field; how to write Java code to deal with Excel data, etc. The idea is that everyone in the class should learn something from your presentation.

Project

Develop a non-trivial web-database application.
You can choose (a) DBMS (b) programming language (c) project.
Requirements: (a) use some DBMS (b) can demonstrate in class (c) search + update + bulkload (d) on time.
Grouping: the project can be done in 1, 2, or 3 person groups only. Everyone in the group will get the same grade, no matter what percentage each individual contributes.
Sample projects: (a) CCIS Faculty Listing (b) Skyline Computation
Due date: Milestone 1: send me an email describing the project you plan to develop, by Sep 27 at 6:00pm. Milestone 2: send me the source files IN ONE .tar.gz or .zip FILE, with a report IN PDF OR WORD, by Nov 15 at 6:00pm. The report should have: names of all group members, user manual (how to use the program); developer manual (how to maintain the project, design documents, etc.).
Demo: each group should demonstrate the project on Nov 29 in class. Every student will give a grade to every project.
Provided environment: ASP.NET.
Advice: start doing the project early!

Tentative Schedule

	Date	Lecture	Quiz & Milestone
Week 1	Sep 6	Chp 1: Introduction
Week 2	Sep 13	Instructor travels, no class.
Week 3	Sep 20	Chp 6 & 7: Web database application
Week 4	Sep 27	Chp 2: ER model	Milestone 1.
Week 5	Oct 4	Chp 3: Relational model
Week 6	Oct 11	Chp 19: Normal forms	Quiz 1
Week 7	Oct 18	Chp 4: Relational algebra
Week 8	Oct 25	Chp 5: SQL	Quiz 2
Week 9	Nov 1	Chp 5: SQL
Week 10	Nov 8	Chp 5: SQL
Week 11	Nov 15	B+-tree	Quiz 3. Milestone 2.
Week 12	Nov 22	Thanksgiving, no class.
Week 13	Nov 29	Project demo
Week 14	Dec 6	Advanced topics
Final Exam	Dec 13

Academic Honesty

Northeastern University is committed to the principles of intellectual honesty and integrity. All members of the Northeastern Community are expected to maintain complete honesty in all academic work, presenting only that which is their own work in tests and assignments. If you have any questions regarding the proper attribution of the work of others, contact your professor prior to submitting the work for evaluation.