Database Management System

The assigned Reading – “Database Management System” from Access Science is an encyclopedia article that describes all aspects of DBMS. The first sentence is a pretty focused definition that sums up the whole idea. It simply says that a database management system is “the software that manages and controls access to data in a database.”  A database is basically any system that controls data, whether it be computerized or not. A database in this day and age is usually a network for a company, which then sends specific data out to people through computers, or “clients”. This data is stored on hard drives within the computers. Other storage places are flash drives, cd’s, dvd’s, tapes, etc. Data is made up of data itself, and then metadata, which is like a labeling system for the attributes of the data. All the metadata in a database is called the schema. Obviously, databases are unique to their use, and cannot be duplicated for different uses. Data managers, programmers, and end users make up all users of data in a database. The apple Iphone database “Siri” is an example of an interesting development in database interfaces where the end user can communicate their queries in an actual spoken language. A Parametric interface requires the end user to press buttons, which is what we are used to in this day and age. The size of databases is growing exponentially. Data models decide how data is stored and seen, and then describes what data is there and how it’s related. This is called “three level architecture.” A data language is how the user communicates with the data. Programming, query, DDL, and SDL are all data languages. Database management systems are classified by how many users can access the system at the same time, by their data models, where the data is located in the system, etc. Client server architecture is a network based system as discussed above. Open Database Connectivity  (ODBC) is a Microsoft based standard that allows an application to access data from different databases using the same coding. Java has also created this for their applications. The most popular DBMS is called the Relational DMBS, which set up data in tables. This is what you’d consider a normally set-up table of data. The RDBMS is the future of the industry, as well as the present. GIS and smartphones are other emerging technologies in the industry.

The next article I read is called “Database Management System”. It looks at the history, submodules, advantages, current systems and future trends in DBMS. The article is similar to the assigned reading, but is a little bit more straight forward and easier to understand. This article defines the DBMS as software the creates and maintains a collection of related data. This is somewhat different than the assigned reading definition, in that it actually creates the data, rather than just manages data.  It then describes important functions of a DBMS in addition to management, including, disaster recovery and security. Data management is stated as a “high priority issue” for business, and therefore is using breakthrough technology. The history compares Flat files, or text only files, to Relational Databases, listing the advantages as table relations, security, and the SQL which “defines and manipulates data.” It discusses a few more databases, and then describes what the DBMS actually does. Data manipulation includes selecting, inputting, editing and deleting data in a database. Database Administration is broken down to 3 categories: Operation, Development, and Application Administration. In addition to security and disaster recovery , this article also includes Indexing as another important function of DBMS. Indexing is essentially making inserting and updating data easier by relating the data. Advantages of DBMS is about the same as the Access Science article. The article then suggests when not to use a DBMS, which is due to single user applications, low handling of data, and non- critical systems.  Current database management systems include Oracle, MySQL, and MSSQL. Future Trends describes mainly technological advances of DBMS, but also includes the smart-phone “mobile database” trend. 

I'd say that after reading several Access Science articles, it's become clear to me that if you're not well versed in the topic of the article before you read it, I at least, tend to have trouble following some of the technical terminology.I usually wind up finding a little bit less technical article to explain the Access Science article a little bit easier, and then I develop a pretty decent understanding of the topic by the end of the two articles. This is definitely the case this week.