CST363: Introduction to Database, Week 1

Relational database tables and spreadsheets look similar with both having rows and columns.  What are some important differences between the two?

They look alike, but they work very differently. A database enforces a schema: data types, primary and foreign keys, and checks that block bad input. I can join tables and model relationships instead of repeating the same info. Transactions make changes atomic, so many users can work safely at once. SQL gives me consistent, powerful queries, and indexes make them fast. Spreadsheets are great for quick checks, but they’re fragile, allow mixed data sit in one column, and don’t keep data safe when multiple people edit at once.

Installing and configuration a database and learning how to use it is more complicated that just reading and writing data to a file.  What are some important reasons that makes a database a useful investment of time? 

It takes more work to install and learn a database than to read and write a file, but it scales to large datasets and many users without conflicts. I can run targeted queries and reports instead of loading whole files. Backups, restores, and permissions are built in. Databases also integrate well with apps and services.

What do you want to learn in this course that you think will be useful in your future career? 

I want skills I can use in a future career, not just for class. I’ve heard about SQL before, so it’s nice to finally see how useful it is for working with data. My goal is to build a small, real app that talks to a database with good performance and data integrity. I want something I can point to in interviews and apply in my work.