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: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:30pm-3:45pm
  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.   Elaheh Raisi
    McBryde 106
    Office Hours: 9:30am-11:00am, Tuesdays and 2:00pm-3:30pm Thursdays
    Email: elaheh AT vt DOT edu
2.   Yao Zhang
    McBryde 106
    Office Hours: Will not hold regular office hours
    Email: yaozhang AT vt DOT edu
Class Time: Monday and Wednesday, 4:00PM-5:15PM, GOODW 115
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. Have a great summer!
Final Exam on May 11, 7:45-9:45am in classroom! Good luck. See final review here.
Project Assignment 3 released. Due 05/05. Recitation on 04/22.
Homework 7 released. Due 04/22.
Homework 6 released. Due 04/15.
Project Assignment 2 due date extended to 04/08 Wednesday (in class)!
Handout 3 has been released. We will discuss it next week.
Project Assignment 2 released. Due 04/06. Start early!
Homework 5 released. Due 03/30.
Homework 4 released. Due 03/23.
Welcome back from the Spring Break!
Midterm on March 4 in class! Good luck. See midterm review here.
Homework 3 released. Due 03/02.
Homework 2 released. Due 02/23.
Project Assignment 1 released. Due 02/16.
Handout 2 has been released. We will discuss it next week.
Homework 1 released. Due 02/09.
Handout 1 has been released. We will discuss it on 02/02.
Welcome to the class! First class on 01/21.

Handouts and Practice Problems

Homeworks

Homework 1 (Due: Mon, Feb 09, 2015) [Solution]
Homework 2 (Due: Mon, Feb 23, 2015) [Solution]
Homework 3 (Due: Mon, Mar 02, 2015) [Solution]
Homework 4 (Due: Mon, Mar 23, 2015) [Solution]
Homework 5 (Due: Mon, Mar 30, 2015) (do not forget to check the various set-up files via the HW) [Solution]
Homework 6 (Due: Wed, Apr 15, 2015) [Solution]
Homework 7 (Due: Wed, Apr 22, 2015) [Solution]

Course Project

Using the PostgreSQL server. (useful for HW4, and Project Assignments 2 and 3)
Project Assignment 1 (also contains the overview) (Due: Mon, Feb 16, 2015)
Project Assignment 2 (Due: Mon, Apr 6, 2015) [Solutions]
Project Assignment 3 (Due: Tue, May 5, 2015)

Schedule (tentative)

For lecture slides and readings, go here.

The Relational Model
Relational Algebra and SQL
E/R Models
Storing Data and Indexes
Hashing/Sorting and Query Processing
Query Optimization
NoSQL and MapReduce
FDs and Normalization
Transactions and Concurrency Control
Logging and Recovery
XML, Data Mining, Data-warehousing

Acknowledgements

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