Tech Stacks - Databases COM417

By the end of this unit, students will:

Understand the importance and role of relational databases in modern IT systems
Produce meaningful information from data in response to a reporting requirement
Have a good understanding of the SQL language
Understand the different types of entity relationships that exist
Know how to ensure database integrity is maintained
Learn how design a new database or extend an existing one
Know how to implement a new database or changes to an existing one
Have a good understanding of the Python programming language
Know how to retrieve data from and manipulate data in a database from within a Python program
Know how to develop database applications
Be able to write a structured report informed by research

The Introduction to Databases module is split into three blocks:

Block 1 - Retrieving data using SQL Queries

Basic queries
Functions
Inner and Outer Joins
Aggregation
Comparing and combining result sets
Nested queries

Block 2 - Design and implementation

Database lifecycle
Conceptual, logical and physical design
Types of relationships
ERD and EERD
Generalisation and specialisation
Types of constraints
Database Implementation
Testing constraints

Block 3 - Programming with Databases

Writing programs with embedded SQL
Transaction control
Minimising SQL injection attacks
Using Pandas to export and import data to a SQL database.

We use SQLite and Python for the delivery but teach ANSI standard SQL so it can be applied to any flavour of SQL. Our students get an introduction to Python in semester 1 and study Databases in semester 2 which builds on those Python skills and seems to work well.