Database Management Systems
EECS-4411
York University
Winter 2016

Semester: Winter 2016
Course/Sect#: EECS-4411
Time: Tuesday, Thursday 10-11:30AM
Location: CB 120
Instructor: Jarek Gryz
Office: 2049 CSB
Office Hours: TR 12-1PM
or by appointment
Ph#: 416-736-2100 x70150
e-mail: jarek@cs.yorku.ca
T.A.: Nikolay Yakovets
Office: Lassonde Bldg. 2053
Office Hours: Thursday noon or by appointment
Ph#: N/A
e-mail: hush@cs.yorku.ca
Class URL: http://www.cs.yorku.ca/~jarek/courses/4411/W16


Announcements

Homework Assignments

HW1 (10 points): Due Jan 28 at noon in drop-off box: 8.4 (5,6,10,11,12), 8.8 (a case when no record qualifies), 9.6, 9.8, 9.16, 10.2 (1-5), 10.6, 11.2 (6-7), 11.6, 13.4 (b,d,e) (homework complete) Solutions

HW2 (8 points): Due March 10 at noon in drop-off box: 14.6 (there is a typo in 14.6: where it says "in Exercise 14.1" should say "Exercise 14.4"), 15.2 (c,d,g,h for points 1,2,3,4), 15.4 (2,3) , 22.6 (4,6) (homework complete)

Solutions (note that the numbering of the exercises here is different than in the current textbook).

HW3 (6 points): Due Apr 7 at 2PM in drop-off box:


Books / Reading


Required Textbook / Reading

Database Management Systems.
Third Edition, 2003.
Raghu Ramakrishnan and Johannes Gehrke
WCB/McGraw Hill.
ISBN: 0-07-232206-3
URL: http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~dbbook

We will cover (at least) chapters: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 25, 26 from the textbook.

Lecture slides can be found here. (Note, they are only accessible from York CS machines).


The Course


Description (from the academic calendar)

This course is the second course in database management. It introduces concepts, approaches, and techniques required for the design and implementation of database management systems.


Course Objectives and Content

In this course, we go "under the hood" to learn how a relational database management system is built. Students will learn the issues involved in designing efficient database systems, and the strategies, data-structures, and algorithms used in the implementation of such systems. Additionally, we shall also explore some advanced topics in databases.

The course is designed in three parts: the physical database, query processing, and advanced topics. Specific contents include the following.

I. The Physical Database
  • file organizations
  • indexes
    • tree-structured indexing
    • hash-based indexes
  • external sorting
II. Query Processing
  • evaluation of relational operators
    • selection
    • projection
    • joins (the many ways)
    • set operations
    • aggregate operations
  • relational query optimization
    • query evaluation plans
    • translating SQL queries into algebra
    • considering alternative plans
    • cost models and estimations
  • physical database design and tuning
III. Advanced Topics
  • deductive and active databases
  • object-relational and object-oriented databases
  • decision support systems
  • cutting-edge (research) topics (to be determined)
    • semantic query optimization
    • mediation and heterogeneous databases
    • cooperative query answering
    • databases and the web
    • ...


Grading Criteria / Course Requirements

Percentage When
Homework Assignments 5% due through the semester
Project 15% April 4
Test 1 20% Feb 11
Test 2 20% March 15
Final Exam 40% TBA

The grading policy is standard. Collaboration and discussion on the assignments is fine. Note however, that unless you work through the exercises yourself, you will not get much benefit from them.

York University's rules for academic honesty and plagiarism always remain in effect.


Homework Assignments

There will be 3 assignment sets through the semester. You will get a check-mark for turning in each assignment. The assignments, however, will not be graded. It is important to put effort into the assignments, however, for understanding of the materials, and because similar problems will appear on the exams. Solutions to assignment sets will be made available after the turn-in dates for study purposes.

All written work for the assignments need not be typed; but if you hand-write them, you must write legibly for credit. Late assignment sets will be accepted with 50% credit reduction for each day overdue.


Project

The project description is here. Please keep visiting this page as we may add new information there.


Policies


Exams & Attendance

Exams must be taken when scheduled. If a student misses a test and has a medical documentation or can demonstrate special circumstances, credit for that test will be moved to the final exam (for example, after missing one test his/her final exam will count for 60% of the total grade).

Class attendance is important as the student will have an opportunity to ask for clarification of course and text material. There will be problem solving sessions during each class period so that students gain experience applying the theory in practice.


Academic Integrity / Honesty / Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as taking the language, ideas, or thoughts of another, and representing them as your own. If you use someone else's ideas, cite them. If you use someone else's words, clearly mark them as a quotation. Note that plagiarism includes using another's computer programs or pieces of a program. All instances of plagiarism will be reported.

These policies are not intended to keep students from working with other students. One can learn much working with other, so this is to be encouraged. Should you encounter any situations for which you are uncertain whether such collaboration is permitted or not, please ask.