What the course is about
- Subject: the design and implementation of database management systems — the internals: algorithms, data structures, and components used to process and manage a database (
4:09). - It is not a course on using or administering a database. Homework 1 involves writing SQL; after that students build their own database system that supports SQL and relational databases (
4:09). - Alternatives pointed out for students who want the applied side (
4:09,4:58):- Heinz College (Information Systems) — using and administering databases, one course Oracle-based.
- An SCS software-engineering / web-programming course — building an application on top of a database.
Lecture rules
- Interrupt with questions during lecture. The instructor talks fast when excited about databases; raise your hand whenever a slide or point is unclear (
2:57). - No lecture questions immediately after class. In past years students queued up and he repeated himself; asking during class instead gets the answer captured on the recording and improves future years (
3:25). - Don't ask questions that don't concern the rest of the class (e.g. bathroom permission — "you're all adults") (
3:25). - No blockchain questions. He considers blockchains a terrible idea for databases; the topic is off the syllabus for the entire semester (
3:25).