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An Introduction to Database Systems

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An Introduction to Database Systems provides a comprehensive introduction to the now very large field of database systems by providing a solid grounding in the foundations of database technology while shedding some light on how the field is likely to develop in the future. This edition has been rewritten and expanded to stay current with database system trends.

1040 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2003

87 people are currently reading
1403 people want to read

About the author

C.J. Date

52 books26 followers
Christopher J. Date (born 1941) is an independent author, lecturer, researcher, and consultant, specializing in relational database theory.
—from wikipedia

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5 stars
129 (34%)
4 stars
135 (36%)
3 stars
70 (18%)
2 stars
28 (7%)
1 star
11 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Will Semin.
17 reviews15 followers
September 23, 2019
I am still reading this book. But I can tell that is the most important book for any developer out there. Read it. Watch the videos.
Profile Image for Mike Polsky.
14 reviews16 followers
September 28, 2019
Really enjoyed it, it was surprisingly easy to read. Explained all the rules and principles well. I was thinking about our production code all the time while reading it.
33 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2011
Date's seminal work is critical to understanding databases - a step mostly forgotten by those who believe every concept can be taught using commercial products with brain-dead examples in under 24 hours. Date teaches the logic and theory that underlie all successful practice. You can probably buy a different book and create a mock database faster, but you will neither understand nor be able to use it well. Do yourself a favor and read this first to understand what a database is; only then can you judge the value of other books.
Profile Image for Terry.
72 reviews
July 12, 2011
Just THE most important book about databases and especially Reational databases. If you need to know anything about the subject its here.

I was lucky enough also to meet CJ Date and he is a very knowlegable and friendly person who well deserves the admiration of his readers.
Profile Image for Steve.
79 reviews24 followers
August 4, 2007
A rigorous, highly opinionated overview of database theory and some practice. Transaction management is only lightly covered but the sections on relational algebra/calculus and normalization make up for it.
Profile Image for Federico Razzoli.
Author 2 books1 follower
February 12, 2019
A wonderful book from an academic point of view. It is mostly easy to read, yet it provides a solid knowledge about the theory that is behind relational databases. The book's approach is progressive: first it explains things in a more understandable way and then, when the reader has enough information, it proceeds to more formally correct explanations.

Unfortunately, the author's approach is a bit too theory-centric. He strongly criticises "inconsistencies" between the math and existing systems. This is a point of views that must be respected of course, but sometimes he doesn't see that these inconsistencies make them fast and able to scale as required by modern workloads.
1 review
Currently reading
November 16, 2020
good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Volodymyr.
100 reviews11 followers
May 22, 2011
This book is very comprehensive and theoretical description of relational databases, but this is it's bad side. High theoretical level and lack of real-world examples can't make it, for example, be recommended as an introduction as said in it's title
Profile Image for Ling Wang.
18 reviews9 followers
December 22, 2018
本是一本好书,但是作者为苛求严谨而描述的过于细致,以至于有罗唆之感。
如果精炼一把,页数估计能减半,那时我给4星;但是现在我只想给2.5星。
不过也有章节确实因为本书特有的严谨细致把问题解释的特别清晰的,如 Chapter 15、16、20。尤其是 Chapter 20,对 Type Inheritance 给出了逻辑性极强,极其缜密的辨析,让我跳出通俗传统的 OO 理论,对 Type(Class) 有了更全面的理解。
正是由于这几章挽回了我的些许好感,暂时打3星吧.
Profile Image for Graham Lee.
119 reviews28 followers
Read
October 18, 2014
Definitely comprehensive. I find it an amusing indictment of the industry (though not of this book) that SQL doesn't implement the relational model, and the relational DBMSs don't implement standard SQL.
Profile Image for Fred.
401 reviews11 followers
November 3, 2020
Wonderful book. This book significantly improved my database skills when I was starting out as a relatively new programmer. (New meaning Delphi programmer, who finally earned access to full data rights to our Oracle databases.)
Profile Image for RJ.
151 reviews6 followers
Read
October 31, 2008
Introduction to Database Systems, An (8th Edition) (Introduction to Database Systems) by C.J. Date (2003)
Profile Image for Heather.
119 reviews12 followers
November 13, 2009
This was a text I used in my college DB course - had to use it for review again recently - it's been a decent go-to book for a DB refresher.
Profile Image for Ivan.
223 reviews10 followers
March 1, 2015
Классическая книга по базам данным. Ничего принципиально нового, зато старое отлично раскладывается по полочкам.
Profile Image for Kevin.
16 reviews4 followers
July 5, 2014
The seminal first year text on database structures and systems. This one influenced me quite a lot.
1 review
Want to read
August 26, 2016
now
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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