This book sheds light on the principles behind the relational model, which is fundamental to all database-backed applications--and, consequently, most of the work that goes on in the computing world today. Database in Depth: The Relational Model for Practitioners goes beyond the hype and gets to the heart of how relational databases actually work. Ideal for experienced database developers and designers, this concise guide gives you a clear view of the technology--a view that's not influenced by any vendor or product. Featuring an extensive set of exercises, it will help you:

• understand why and how the relational model is still directly relevant to modern database technology (and will remain so for the foreseeable future)

• see why and how the SQL standard is seriously deficient

• use the best current theoretical knowledge in the design of their databases and database applications

• make informed decisions in their daily database professional activities

Database in Depth will appeal not only to database developers and designers, but also to a diverse field of professionals and academics, including database administrators (DBAs), information modelers, database consultants, and more. Virtually everyone who deals with relational databases should have at least a passing understanding of the fundamentals of working with relational models. Author C.J. Date has been involved with the relational model from its earliest days. An exceptionally clear-thinking writer, Date lays out principle and theory in a manner that is easily understood. Few others can speak as authoritatively the topic of relational databases as Date can.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 20 Ratings

A clear and concise introduction to the theory behind relational databases - 2007-05-21
Reviewer Rating:
This book is very well written. In spite of the fact that I had very little (near to none) knowledge of database systems when I bought this book, I had no trouble understanding it. It is clear, concise, and covers many important topics in relational database theory. The author uses plain English, so you don't need a degree in math in order to understand the book.

Theory without practice - 2008-05-13
Reviewer Rating:
Despite the sometimes critical earlier reviews I was hoping for an informative read. I was disappointed. There is theory in this book, no doubt, but where is the practice? Date goes on and on about the many failings of SQL, or to say it more in style, he pontificates on the sins of SQL against the one true relational model as, incidentally, incarnated in his own Tutorial D.

The writing is tedious as Date constantly refers to what he will say, what he has said, and what he won't say. The list of suggested readings may be an indication of the status of Date's views in the wider database (research) community: on three pages he almost exclusively refers to publications by himself or his close buddies.

I'd be willing to forgive all these shortcomings if I had learned one great practical idea in the book, just one thing that makes me a better software developer. Alas, no. For the theory alone it's hardly worth slogging through this volume, slim as it is. Instead, I recommend a solid academic textbook, such as Database Systems, The Complete Book by Garcia-Molina et al. It's dry book, but without the preaching.

Grumpy theory - 2007-07-02
Reviewer Rating:
Contains only theory, with little real-word usefulness, despite what the author claims. Comes across as if it's written by a grumpy old man, constantly complaining about how SQL gets everything wrong.

Not my cup of tea - 2007-03-28
Reviewer Rating:
Author concentrates too much on minute details which are in many ways irrelevant/implicit to many readers I feel. At times after reading a whole lot of pages, I feel like I have learnt very few newer things...same things are repeated often. Too much focus on the relational
jargon, rather the author says to strictly follow the terminology. Like the way, natural languages have many dialects, in the same fashion many readers will learn in different ways though conceptually they are on the same track. As far as I am concerned, it does not really matter what jargon is used as far as the knowledge can be put in practice correctly.

The relational model in depth - 2009-10-29
Reviewer Rating:
I agree with most of the reviewers of this book in that there is much more theory than practice contained within its pages. I'd just like to add two things. 1) The book now has me thinking in sets, which has helped me to understand how to build better queries. 2) Some of the reviewers are correct in saying that NULLs are here to stay, at least for a while. They can be a pain to deal with, especially when you start bringing your data back into an application's data layer and business object layer. Having said that, the book has me focusing on ways to not use NULLs when I am designing a database. Because, sometimes NULLs can just be easier on database design when really there is a better way.

I suppose I mention this as the practical information I took away from this theoretical book.

Anyway, the writing style of Database in Depth is very easy to stomach. I enjoyed that there were exercises to get the brain thinking more on the subject matter.

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