- Hardcover: 938 pages
- Publisher: Addison Wesley Longman; 7th edition (Oct 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0201385902
- ISBN-13: 978-0201385908
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 19.6 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 947,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The newest edition of the classic An Introduction to Database Systems incorporates the latest developments in relational databases, including semantic modelling, decision support and temporal modelling.
There's better information on distributed databases, security, and the mathematics of relational databases, too. With the same strong coverage of fundamental theory that made its predecessors stand out, this book ranks as the definitive textbook for those studying database systems.
This is an extraordinarily academic book. In his preface, C. J. Date goes so far as to lament having to use Structured Query Language (SQL) in some of his examples because it's "so far from being a true embodiment of relational principles." What's more, he writes in a very academic style, peppering his heavily footnoted prose with mathematical expressions and words like "relevar" and "tuple." The academic style and highbrow language isn't a bad thing, since this book deals with complicated, largely abstract phenomena in depth.
Be aware that An Introduction to Database Systems is a far cry from the highly graphical, problem-focused books that target the community of commercial database developers, and as such requires more careful study. This book is about theories, concepts and ideals rather than problems, solutions and specific implementations. As such, it will enable you to become a better database programmer--but only if you supplement it with practical guides and hands-on experience. --David Wall
Synopsis
The Seventh Edition continues to focus on the hallmark feature of its previous editions: providing a solid grounding in the foundations of database technology and shedding some light on how the field is likely to develop in the future. This comprehensive introduction to databases has been thoroughly revised to reflect the latest developments and advances in the field of database systems. Emphasizing insight and understanding rather than formalism, Chris Date has divided the book into six parts: Basic Concepts, The Relational Model, Database Design, Transaction Management, Further Topics, and Object and Object/Relational Databases. Throughout the book, there are numerous worked examples and exercises for the reader--with selected answers--as well as an extensive set of annotated references. The release of this new edition of An Introduction to Database Systems coincides with the 25th Anniversary of its initial publication.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The mere fact that this book is in its 8th edition tells you it is a standard work in the field. I have had several previous editions sitting on my desk during the last 20 years, and it is the first and last place I ever need to look for answers.
Unlike any other IT/programming specialty, database management has a coherent body of theory underpinning it. Database design and programming can (in principle) aspire to real scientific and engineering rigour. Date's books, and this book in particular, are an authoritative (albeit demanding) introduction to the indispensible theory and mathematics of the field. Without that knowledge any self-described practitioner could rightly be called a "dabbler" or even a "cowboy", or worse. (I make a very good living cleaning up after such people.)
The title of this book has occasionally led a naive buyer to think it will provide a quick "brain dump" of recipes for using whatever is the currently fashionable product-du-jour. It will not do that. Instead it will prepare you for a satisfying career that could occupy you for lifetime. Not too many books can claim that.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is really great.
I purchased it to go along with an rBDMS undergraduate course at University as it was the recommended text. It's easy to see why!
The book is well structured and contains everthing to do with database systems from the logic behind rDBMS systems, to SQL and the failings with SQL.
The only problem with the book is that it can be a bit difficult to read in places if you're not that "into" databases. Although, if you're not into databases, why would you be buying a book on Database Systems!
I purchased it to go along with an rBDMS undergraduate course at University as it was the recommended text. It's easy to see why!
The book is well structured and contains everthing to do with database systems from the logic behind rDBMS systems, to SQL and the failings with SQL.
The only problem with the book is that it can be a bit difficult to read in places if you're not that "into" databases. Although, if you're not into databases, why would you be buying a book on Database Systems!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having been introduced to this book back at edition 5, the only regret I have is that I bought the paperback version of the book. Earlier reviews highlight the academic style of the book; whilst I would agree that Date tends toward a more formal use of the English language, his verbose style does reduce the use of a dictionary and jotting pad! Date writes in a way that allows the first time reader to simple read, concentrating on the issues at hand rather than trying to decipher the word as is so often the case with Grady Booch!! Be aware though this this book does cover everything from the beginings of databases systems, the reasons why they look the way they do today and some interesting ideas for the future - assuming we all have a Cray to run the systems on!! Each chapter is well thought out, ideas being built upon, with a consolidation at the end. If you are using this book as your class text book, the teacher will have to understand their subject properly. Date writes for the technically minded computer scientist not the layman. If you are new to computers and the world of databases especially, take a deep breath first and work slowly. This is no 'Dummies Guide to Databases', but then if you want an in depth knowledge you have to read about the subject in depth. Quite simply the only reference book you will ever need for Vendor-Independant database theory!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bloated, dry read with too much dross burying the useful nuggets
Date's book is a rambling, smug, supercilious tome, utterly academic in nature and useless to anyone who works for a living. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Colin MacDonald
the book to get!
This is the complete theoretical and practical book to learn DBMS. Easy to read for a non-native.
Published on 31 July 2009 by H. Roland
It's big but it's not clever
A beast of a book hindered considerably by over-complexity and forward-referencing. It astounds me that one as versed in relational databases as Date is has delivered a book that... Read more
Published on 16 May 2008 by Dead Rockstar
A Difficult Read
If you're looking for a book that get will get you up to speed with using databases quickly this isn't it. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2008 by Mr. D. F. Hagon
You just have to have this book.
If you're a database academic, you just have to have this book. It has become the database bible and is the ultimate reference on questions of definition. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2000
From the master himself
Along with Codd, C J Date is quite simply the man who created and developed relational theory. Because of this fact, the book is written from a theoretical perspective and is all... Read more
Published on 26 Sep 1999 by Roddy-I-Bev@MSN.COM
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