The course introduces systems, models, languages and design involved in databases and their application. We cover also the architecture of database systems, to the extent that is necessary in order to develop efficient and effective database applications. The teaching involves practical exercises using a fully developed database system, both for development of small applications and for isolated experiments with specific facilities and concepts.
We put an emphasis on mainstream data models with the relational data model as the most central one. We introduce to database languages and go in depth with SQL. Furthermore, we introduce to database design primarily using the relational model, including normalization.
Special issues such as persistency, concurrency and transactions, that distinguish applications with extensive use of databases, are considered together with the special challenges these causes for the human-computer interaction (HCI) aspects. An important aspect of databases is also how (especially large) date are presented to the user; to this end, data visualization is exemplified by the R language.
The purpose of this course is to give a general introduction to databases in terms of both application and foundation. More specifically, the aim is that the student should: