Description

CS 4604 is intended to be a first course in database systems for advanced undergraduates in computer science. It offers students an introduction to the design and programming of database systems. In particular, we will cover the ER (entity-relationship) approach to data modeling, the relational model of database management systems (DBMSs) and the use of query languages such as SQL. We will also cover relational algebra and the use of SQL in a programming environment. We will also touch upon query processing and the role of transaction management. We will also devote some time to current topics of research such as XML databases, data mining and MapReduce (Hadoop). Topics outside the scope of this course are how to implement a DBMS in detail, active database elements, and object oriented DBMSs.

Why do we do databases?

Course Information

• Instructor:
    B. Aditya Prakash
    Torg 3160F
    Office Hours: Tue and Thu 12noon-1pm
    Email: badityap AT cs DOT vt DOT edu
    Important: Please include CS 4604 in the subject line of all email messages that you send me.
• Teaching Assistants:
  1.   Deepika Subramanian
       McBryde 106
       Office Hours: Wednesday: 10:30am-12noon and Friday: 9:00-10:30am
       Email: dramasubramanian AT vt DOT edu
• Class Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30AM-10:45AM, McB 113
• Discussion: Piazza link.
• Grading and Policies: See here. (please make sure you have gone through it at least once)

Textbooks and Resources

• Required:
    Database Management Systems (3rd Ed.) by Raghu Ramakrishnan and Johannes Gehrke
• Optional:
    Database Systems: The Complete Book (6th Ed.) by Hector Garcia-Molina, Jeffrey Ullman and Jennifer Widom
    Database System Concepts (6th Ed.) by Avi Silberschatz, Henry Korth and S. Sudarshan

See other resources (pointers to datasets, code etc.) here.

Announcements

• Final letter grades posted. Happy Holidays!
• Final exam on 12/07. Good luck!
• Project Assignment 3 due on 12/04.
• Homework 7 is out. Due 11/15.
• Project Assignment 3 is out. Due 12/04, with demos on 12/05.
• Homework 6 is out. Due 11/08.
• Project Assignment 2 is also out. Due 11/01.
• Handout 3 is out. We will discuss it next week.
• Homework 5 is out. Due 10/25.
• Good luck for your midterm exam on 10/04.
• Homework 4 has been released. Due 10/15.
• Homework 3 has been released. Due 10/02.
• Homework 2 is out. Due 09/25.
• Handout 2 is out. We will discuss it next week.
• Homework 1 has been released. Due 09/13.
• Handout 1 is on the course website. We will discuss it on 09/06.
• Project Assignment 1 is out. Due 09/06.
• Welcome to the class! No lectures on 08/21 and 08/23, but please attend (important information will be given out).

Handouts and Practice Problems

• Handout 1 (RA/SQL) [Sample Solutions]
• Handout 2 (E/R) [Sample Solutions]
• Handout 3 (FDs and Normalization) [Sample Solutions]
• Practice Problems

Homeworks

• Homework 1 (Due: Sept 13, 2018) [Solution]
• Homework 2 (Due: Sept 25, 2018) [Solution]
• Homework 3 (Due: Oct 2, 2018) [Solution]
• Homework 4 (Due: Oct 16, 2018) [Solution]
• Homework 5 (Due: Oct 25, 2018) (do not forget to check links to the multiple set-up files in the HW) [Solution]
• Homework 6 (Due: Nov 8, 2018) [Solution]
• Homework 7 (Due: Nov 15, 2018) [Solution]

Course Project

• Using the PostgreSQL server. (useful for HW4, and Project Assignments 2 and 3)
• Project Assignment 1 (also contains the overview) (Due: Thu, Sep 6, 2018)
• Project Assignment 2 (Due: Thu, Nov 1, 2018) [Solutions]
• Project Assignment 3 (Due: Tue, Dec 4, 2018)

Schedule (tentative)

For lecture slides and readings, go here.

1. The Relational Model
2. Relational Algebra and SQL
3. E/R Models
4. Storing Data and Indexes
5. Hashing/Sorting and Query Processing
6. Query Optimization
7. NoSQL and MapReduce
8. FDs and Normalization
9. Transactions and Concurrency Control
10. Logging and Recovery
11. XML, Data Mining, Data-warehousing

Acknowledgements

Amazon's AWS in Education grant program for generously providing support for Amazon Web Services.