Argomenti dell'insegnamento
- Relational data model and relational algebra - The SQL language - Using SQL in database applications: API, embedded SQL - The Entity Relationship model - Conceptual database design - Logical database design

Modalità di insegnamento
The course includes frontal lectures, exercises, and project work.

Modalità d'esame
For both attending and non-attending students, assessment consists of a project aimed at testing the ability to apply knowledge and communicate effectively, carried out individually or as a group of two and presented orally. In addition, a written exam includes verification questions as well as questions designed to assess both knowledge and understanding, and the ability to apply that knowledge.

Criteri di valutazione
For both attending and non-attending students, the assessment consists of two components: a project (30% of the final mark) and a written exam (70% of the final mark). The project evaluates the ability to work in teams, apply knowledge in practical contexts, and summarize concepts in one’s own words. The written exam assesses clarity of responses, the ability to recall principles and methods used in database systems, and the skill to apply knowledge through tasks such as developing and querying databases. To carry out the project, students must agree with the lecturer on the topic and scope, preferably during the early stages of development, based on an initial draft of the conceptual schema, to minimize the risk of having to redo work. Attending students can discuss their project during dedicated lab sessions, while non-attending students must make arrangements during office hours or by scheduling an appointment with the lecturer. The project is usually discussed two to three working days before the scheduled written exam, and must be submitted by the deadline announced on MS Teams, typically two days before the discussion date. In order to be admitted to the written exam, the project must be discussed and positively evaluated. Without passing the project, students are not allowed to take the written exam. The written exam, which lasts at least two hours, requires students to design a database based on a given specification, formulate SQL queries, and possibly respond in writing to questions on topics covered in the course. To pass the course, both the project and the written exam must be passed. The final grade is calculated as a weighted average of the project (30%) and written exam (70%) marks. A positive project mark remains valid for all three regular exam sessions within the same academic year, meaning that if a student fails or does not sit the written exam, the project evaluation is retained and only the written exam needs to be retaken.

Bibliografia obbligatoria

- course lecture notes, available on the Microsoft Teams course page;

- instructions for carrying out the project, available on the course Web page.

Bibliografia facoltativa

Raghu Ramakrishnan and Johannes Gehrke. Database Management Systems. McGraw-Hill, Boston, 3rd edition, August 2002. ISBN 978-0-07-246563-1. 

Altre informazioni
- PostgreSQL (https://www.postgresql.org) - RADB (Java relational algebra interpreter) (https://users.cs.duke.edu/~junyang/radb/) - Java (https://openjdk.org)