Thread: SQL/Relational Design Text Book recommendations

I'm trying to get the local college to offer a Relational Database Design
class/course.  We'd be using PostgreSQL on Linux boxen.  I've done some
design and implementation using Oracle and there is a fair amount of books
for this platform but I'm having some trouble finding generic books that
deal with database design.  I searched Amazon.Com and found several
possibilities but would like this group's suggestions.
   If you were going to teach a class on relational database design which
book(s) would you use?  Heck if you were going to take a class which book
do you think should be used.

TIA,
Rod
--
Roderick A. Anderson
raanders@altoplanos.net               Altoplanos Information Systems, Inc.
Voice: 208.765.6149                            212 S. 11th Street, Suite 5
FAX: 208.664.5299                                  Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

The Linux Database that is a part of the Slackware Series would get my
vote.  The first few chapters were great.  Here is a look at the
chapters:

Chapter One: The Relational Model (Relational Calculus and Algebra as
well as the Relational Model and Integrity discussed)
Chapter Two: Designing a Relational Database (Examples of Building a
Database)
Chapter Three: Structured Query Language
Chapter Four: The Architecture of a Database Application
Chapter Five: Accessing the Database (Embedded SQL, JDBC, ODBC)

Database Administration and Design is always a subject that is taught
poorly at my school because they find a shy adjunct professor to take
the class at night.  The professor is always hired at the last minute
and never picks the books.  Just using the Linux Database alone helped
me ace all the test and get a real understanding of the subject.  You
can find more info on the book and possibly order it at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D1558284915/slashdotA/002-4106470-2352025

"Roderick A. Anderson" wrote:
>
> I'm trying to get the local college to offer a Relational Database Design
> class/course.  We'd be using PostgreSQL on Linux boxen.  I've done some
> design and implementation using Oracle and there is a fair amount of books
> for this platform but I'm having some trouble finding generic books that
> deal with database design.  I searched Amazon.Com and found several
> possibilities but would like this group's suggestions.
>    If you were going to teach a class on relational database design which
> book(s) would you use?  Heck if you were going to take a class which book
> do you think should be used.
>
> TIA,
> Rod
> --
> Roderick A. Anderson
> raanders@altoplanos.net

--
Mark Fleming Student ICQ# 16171200
e-mail: mtony@iname.com
http://www.globaldrum.com/mfleming
http://coolbox.bowiestate.edu/~mfleming

"Roderick A. Anderson" wrote:
>
>    If you were going to teach a class on relational database design which
> book(s) would you use?  Heck if you were going to take a class which book
> do you think should be used.
>

The best book I've found so far is David C. Hay's Data Model Patterns
it does a very good job documenting common models.  It's best to
learn from example... and this one provides lots of examples.
Another one which isn't so bad, is Peter Coad's book on object-oriented
programming.  His book is heavy on example models, which lend themselves
to implementation in an object-relational database like postgresql.

There was one other 'data model pattern' book out there, I picked
it up at Borders one day... read some of it, looked at my wallet
and put the book back *sigh*.  I should have written down the
author/title, it was very much like David Hay's book, but from
someone with a different perspective, so it was interesting reading.

Any data model should be backed by solid requirements and analysis
discussion, if it was a year long class, I'd mix the two together.
College students get taught alot of design, but not many professors
go out of there way to teach analysis.  You could get some of the
UML books to help you, however, I'm still partial to old-school
analysis and design, 'Structured Analysis and Systems Specification'
by Tom DeMarco.  It is dated 1979, but it is still a wonderful book.
Michael Jackson's recent book is also very good, it teaches predicate
logic, which, IMHO, is sadly lacking from UML.  Oh, ya, you could
also grab some of the UML books.  The new one written by Jachobson
is very good -- use cases are absolutely necessary when data modeling.

Of course, 'A Guide to THE SQL STANDARD' by C.J.Date with Hugh Darwen
is always handy to have around.

Hope this helps,

Clark Evans