Course SQL

Database Design
Database Models
Database systems can be based on different data models or database models
respectively. A data model is a collection of concepts and rules for the description
of the structure of the database. Structure of the database means the data types, the
constraints and the relationships for the description or storage of data respectively.
The most often used data models are:
Network Model and The network model and the hierarchical model are the
Hierarchical Model predecessors of the relational model. They build upon
individual data sets and are able to express hierarchical or
network like structures of the real world.
Network Model and Hierarchical Model

Relational Model The relational model is the best known and in todays DBMS
most often implemented database model. It defines a
database as a collection of tables (relations) which contain all
data.
This module deals predominantly with the relational database
model and the database systems based on it.
Relational
Database Model
Object-oriented
Model
Object-oriented models define a database as a collection of

objects with features and methods. A detailed discussion of
object-oriented databases follows in an advanced module.
Schematic Representation of a Objectoriented Database Model

Object-relational Object-oriented models are very powerful but also quite
Model
complex. With the relatively new object-relational database
model is the wide spread and simple relational database
model extended by some basic object-oriented concepts.
These allow us to work with the widely know relational
database model but also have some advantages of the objectoriented model without its complexity.
Schematic Represenation of the object-relational Database Model

Beginnings
Where Did Oracle Come From? - Page 2
Who was First to Use the Relational Model?
In the early 1970's, IBM's System R "was intended to provide a high-level,
nonnavigational, data-independent interface to many users simultaneously, with
high integrity and robustness." By the end of the 1970's, IBM had experimented
with "a full-function, multi-user version." One of the main results of that effort was
the development of a structured query language, or SQL.
At roughly the same time in the 70's, the product known as Ingres was being
developed by scientists at UC Berkeley. Funding for Ingres came from a variety of
sources, chief among them being various branches of the military. The Ingres
project used its own query language (QUEL), but SQL is what has become the
standard.
There were some significant differences between System R and Ingres. The source
code for System R was kept private, whilst that of Ingres was freely available.
System R was meant to be sold; Ingres was freely distributed to the academic
community. Additionally, System R, being produced in the commercial arena, was
competing with other resources within IBM. Ingres was new and could go any
direction as needed.
System R, did, however, create the opportunity for another system to come along.
IBM was sitting atop a gold mine and did not realize it. Lawrence Ellison
recognized the potential of what System R had to offer, and that gave rise to the
company and relational database system named Oracle.
Oracle's Beginning
In 1977, Lawrence Ellison, along with cofounders Bob Miner and Ed Oates,
founded a company named Software Development Laboratories. In 1979, as the
renamed Relational Software Inc., the first commercial version was released,
running on the Digital PDP-11. Interestingly, the first released version was Version
2 - the "2" conveying the idea that all the bugs had been worked out since Version
1, of which, there was no such version. In 1983, the company was renamed to
Oracle (it was a name of a project Ellison had worked on for the CIA). Today,
Oracle is the largest relational database system vendor and the world's second
largest independent software company.
Originally designed to run on the VMS/VAX computer system, Oracle today can
be found on every version of UNIX, most versions of Windows, and a slew of
other platforms. In fact, Oracle currently lists support for 77 platforms under its
"Certify & Availability" link on its support Web site (MetaLink). The Oracle Web
site shows a timeline of significant events and accomplishments
(http://www.oracle.com/corporate/history.html).
Starting out as a pure database company, the company's chief strength today is still
in the RDBMS market. Oracle also has a successful line of products used for
development, presentation and reporting (Forms and Reports); Web services
(Application Server); and enterprise management software (Oracle Applications,
recently augmented by its acquisition of PeopleSoft).
For an interesting perspective of Oracle's beginnings, read The Difference Between

God and Larry Ellison: Inside Oracle Corporation: God Doesn't Think He's Larry
Ellison. The book paints a somewhat less than flattering view of Mr. Ellison as a
person, but as a shark in corporate waters, he is a very efficient and successful
killing machine. How many times can a company get away with promising
functionality that does not exist yet, or inflate/manipulate sales figures without
being caught by stockholders or regulatory agencies? If the product is that good, it
appears the answer to the first question has no limit. The answer to the second
question - well, that practice did catch up with Oracle and it nearly sunk the
company.
Perhaps the greatest selling strength Oracle possesses today is its support for a
wide range of platforms. SQL Server is very good in many ways, and is relatively
inexpensive when compared to Oracle. Unfortunately, for SQL Server, it is now
and forever tied to the Windows operating system.
Oracle Database Concepts
1. What is a Database?
A database is an organized collection of related information.
Some familiar databases are:
telephone directories
address books
mailing lists and
inventory lists.
These are classified as databases because they are collections of like information
that are useful to a particular organization, or are used for a particular purpose.
Although database structures may vary from one environment to another, their
overall purpose is the same: to keep information logically organized.
2. What is a DBMS?
A Database Management System (DBMS) is a computer-basedrecord keeping

system that facilitates the storage, retrieval, and manipulation of
information. DBMS software is a sharable resource that allows users to access
shared data and retrieve information.
Part of the advantage of a DBMS is the maintained integrity of the data in the
database file. A properly kept database will ensure that this single source of
information is correct, and that consistency is maintained.
Further, a DBMS provides users with an efficient means of organizing, managing,
and analyzing large amounts of related information. This data can then be
summarized, grouped, and formatted into meaningful reports for easier
interpretation.
3. What is a RDBMS? (Relational Database)
A relational database is a conceptual view of data and offers many
advantages. The most important advantage is that the relationships between data
can be determined at the time the user requests information from the database,
instead of at the creation of the database.

Course SQL

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Course SQL

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Database Design

Network Model and Hierarchical Model

Object-oriented models define a database as a collection of

Schematic Representation of a Objectoriented Database Model

Schematic Represenation of the object-relational Database Model

For an interesting perspective of Oracle's beginnings, read The Difference Between

A Database Management System (DBMS) is a computer-basedrecord keeping

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