Week 6- What is SQL?

SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is a program language specifically designed for managing data. The language is specifically used for updating, deleting and requesting information from databases. The four main functions that SQL selecting performs are selecting, inserting, updating and deleting data. By utilizing SQL, these types of functions allow seamless communication and manipulations to different databases. Database management can be an extremely difficult process and SQL helps make this task more manageable. (Chamberlin 1981)

SQL was first developed in the early 1970s by Dr. E.F. Codd. It was first developed as SEQUEL, or Structured English Query Language, which would later become SQL. This type of language was specifically developed for providing a standard for accessing and manipulating IBM databases. This database base manipulation language was the standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1986. The International Standards Organizations (ISO) also approves of SQL.  SQL became universally accepted and is still used today, although it has been enhanced many times. (Kline 2004)

The language that SQL utilizes is specifically designed for data within a relational database management system (RDBMS). This system is the primary engines of information systems across the globe and are heavily used in web applications and client/server communications. Users of RDMS systems view data as a collection of tables that are related to one another through a series of common data values. SQL allows the user to easily manage these tables and manipulate the data. Through the SQL language, users can perform tasks such as merge or delete with relative eases.

Comments

Brian Benson- Very good post covering rational database theory. I think it’s amazing that databases as advanced as this could be created over 40 years ago. E.F. Cod was certainly a genius and provided the modern age with many tools that enable us to store the mass amounts of data that is used on a daily basis. His ideas were nothing but revolutionary and hopefully the future leaders in database design can make them even stronger and easier to use.

Ted Bruder- Excellent post that defines the importance of databases. People may not think that technology such as this plays a big role in construction, but as your post points out, it most certainly does. Time is extremely valuable today and easily accessing data is imperative to run a well-organized company. I believe that in order to transition into the future and stay competitive, many companies, not just construction companies, will need to utilize database management effectively.

References

Chamberlin, D. D., Gilbert, A. M., & Yost, R. A. (1981, September). A history of System R and SQL/data system. In VLDB (pp. 456-464).

Kline, K., Hunt, B., & Kline, D. (2004). SQL in a nutshell: a desktop quick reference. O'Reilly Media, Inc..

Week 6 - What is SQL?

“SQL stands for Structured Query Language.  According to American National Standards Institute, it is the standard language for relational database management systems.  It is used as a way to communicate with a database.  SQL statements perform tasks such as update data on a database, or retrieve data from a database.” (What is SQL?)

A database is just a collection of data.  SQL is what is used in order to store and receive that data as efficiently as possible.  Many computer programs, such as blogs or photo galleries, need to store and retrieve data.  Instead of implementing their own system of storing and retrieving data, SQL software systems can be used.  In order to make it easy for other programs to access data, many database software support a computer language known as SQL.  This language was specifically designed for this purpose.  Programs use this language to send it instructions.  An advantage of using software is that you do not have to learn the SQL language.  You just have to learn how to use the specific software and it will code in all the specific language for you. (Heng) This is very beneficial in the working world because there is a very large learning curve when it comes to new languages; especially coding languages.

Here are a few examples of what SQL can do:

·      Execute queries against a database

·      Retrieve data from a database

·      Insert records in a database

·      Delete records from a database

·      Create new databases

·      Create new tables in a database

·      Create stored procedures in a database

·      Create views in a database

·      Set permissions on tables, procedures, and views (Introduction to SQL)

The SQL language makes it very easy for each of these commands to be executed and it is much more efficient than implementing an entirely separate system for storing and recieving data.

References:

Heng, Christopher. "What Is MySQL? What Is a Database? What Is SQL?" Thesitewizardcom RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.

"Introduction to SQL." SQL Introduction. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.

"What Is SQL?" SQLCourse. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.

Comments:

Yijun Qian’s post:  This was a very informative post.  Having worked in the construction firm industry for my first co-op, I understand the importance of using databases in this industry.  Keeping track of information is key, and being able to gather and record certain information is just as important.  Using a database to keep track of all of this data is very efficient and can be beneficial down the road.

Dongyan Qi’s post:  I have had some experience with design work on one of my co-ops and I realize the importance of having everybody on the same page.  Being able to integrate software and recording the documents to save as a background for future use is extremely advantageous and can save a lot of time and money.

Week 6 - SQL What It Is and Why It's Important

Prior to this week’s blog post assignment, I had never heard of SQL – I wouldn’t have even been able to make an educated guess about it. The acronym SQL stands for Structured Query Language. Structured Query Language is an international standard language that database utilize to communicate and synchronize with one another. There are many different types of database systems such as PHP or Microsoft databases, and Structured Query Language enables the databases to communicate with each other efficiently.  To provide a brief history of SQL: in the 1970’s, IBM created the first structured language which was then utilized by Microsoft and Oracle. It soon moved outside of the United States and was ultimately standardized internationally to become Structured Query Language. SQL is not difficult to learn and additionally has many flexible characteristics.

With regards to our field of architectural and structural engineering, Structured Query Language provides a myriad of benefits and uses. As I previously mentioned, SQL is used largely by Microsoft and Oracle, and with that being said, you would be hard pressed to find an engineering firm that doesn’t utilize these database systems in some fashion. In my personal experience, I used Oracle and Microsoft extensively throughout both of my two previous co-ops. The first of my two co-ops was associated with design management, and the firm utilized Oracle Primavera Contract Manager. The firm I worked for was the design management firm for a huge project that had over a dozen engineering firms working on it. In order to keep all of the firm’s designs, transmittals, meetings, requests for information, etc, in an organized fashion, we used Contract Manager’s database system.  Similarly, for my second co-op, which was more construction management oriented, we utilized Contract Manager as well. In both instances, it never occurred to me how versatile and synchronous with other databases that this oracle database was. I suppose in a sense I never took the time to think about the reason that we were able to upload so many different file types to Contract Manager and how it was so easy to transfer between other databases that other firms might have bee using. Structured Query Language is exactly that reason, and it is important for people to be educated about it as well as continue its use.

Chapman, Daniel. "What Is SQL and Why It Is Important?."Ezine Articles. n. page. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. <http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-SQL-and-Why-It-Is-Important?&id=6909544>.

Phil - Great post Phil! I was completely unaware of how relational databases are utilized, and you really got me at the end there with your drop of Microsoft Excel. It hit me like all those V8 commercials, can't believe I didn't think of it while I was reading your post. Well done.

Steve - Very well done post Steve - beyond the actual substance of the post, I feel as though your post is really well organized and demonstrates that you put in a lot of effort. A lot of times we engineers focus on doing the minimum or enough to satisfy the factor of safety, but I can see you like going above and beyond. The table you incorporated really helped explain how relations work and really amplified your article. Keep up the good work.

SQL (Structured Query Language)

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a language used for accessing and managing relational databases. Based on the mathematical principles of relational algebra, it was standardized in 1986 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and later adopted internationally by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It has also been implemented as a Federal Information Processing Standard by the United States government, meaning that it is utilized in federal databases (National Institute of Standards and Technology). Other large institutions such as banks often rely on SQL-defined databases as well (Cogswell).

SQL is important because it is the most popular language for defining relational database models, which have been the standard in the data industry for roughly the past four decades. Relational databases, as opposed to hierarchical databases, are composed of tables for which the creator explicitly defines the links or relationships. For hierarchical databases, every segment is already implicitly defined in a hierarchical path (“Comparison of Hierarchical and Relational Databases”). The main advantage of relational databases is that they do not limit the user to a strict hierarchy of data and allow the programmer more liberty in regards to defining how the information is joined. As a result, they are more desirable in instances that demand flexible data structures. It is also relatively simple to edit and manipulate those structures (NIST). Stephen addressed this in his blog post and observed that relational databases can be easily used by untrained people because they are visually intuitive and eliminate the redundancies that plagued older types of databases.

As Jeremy noted in his post, SQL in its current state is merely a framework and requires additional complex coding to interact successfully with other programs. ANSI and ISO are working to develop SQL beyond its basic function as a language interface for relational models. Specifically, efforts are being made to enable interfacing for non-SQL databases and support the integration of “heterogeneous data systems” (repositories of various object and information types) by automatically enforcing SQL constraints (NIST).

In recent years, NoSQL databases (utilized by Google and Amazon) have drawn a lot of attention. NoSQL lends itself more readily to naturally hierarchical data structures. Additionally, the response time or relational databases can get “bogged down” for very complex systems that must handle many relationships and high user traffic (Cogswell). However, SQL is seeing performance improvements with the emergence of better data management extensions and remains the standard for database definition and communication.

References

"Comparison of Hierarchical and Relational Databases." IBM Information Management Software. IBM, Oct. 2013. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.

Cogswell, Jeff. "SQL vs. NoSQL: Which Is Better?" Slashdot. N.p., 12 July 2012. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.

National Institute of Standards and Technology. "Description of SQL Standards." Database Language SQL. National Institute of Standards and Technology, n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.

SQL - What is it and why is it important.

SQL stands for Structured Query Language and uses a language that allows for interacting with data in a database.  There are many different databases that exist, but to get them to interact with each other requires them all to have some sort of standardized language or list of commands.  SQL is a program that has been around since the 1970s and “happens to be nothing but an international standard language of communication within databases.” (Chapman) 

Although not always seen, SQL is always there and is used in almost all database transactions.  However, most of the work that it does is covered up by the “large number of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that simplify database administration tasks.” (Chapple).  Many different companies use different variations of SQL that are then used by many third party companies to be coded into their final products.  Therefore, every mouse click or text that is typed by the user can be stored in or used to modify a database of information pertinent to each company.

SQL works similarly to how an excel spreadsheet is set up; it looks at data in terms of tables.  Within these tables, SQL allows the user to place data, read data, change data, and remove data from these tables.  SQL also allows for the interaction of several tables at a time to manage data.  Some modern programmers find this approach to be antiquated because “SQL only knows tables, and every operation produces tables. It either "produces" a table by modifying an existing one, or it returns a new temporary table as your data set.” (Shaw)  This can pose problems with many programs today that utilize object-oriented programming that focus on nested objects and parent-child relationship coding techniques.  However, since SQL only provides basic framework, programmers have learned to adapt and change their programs to incorporate all of SQL’s various functions.

Although SQL is a simplified language compared to others, it is often different for each database for which it is used.  “Some databases execute particular functions that will not always run in others. That's the reason why every company that delivers database products such as Microsoft and Oracle, have their own certification process ensuring that those who take the certification exams are very well prepared and understand the differences between the various models of SQL.” (Chapman)  SQL provides the framework to handle complex functions within each company’s own databases, but it takes specialized knowledge to be able to have these databases interact with each other. 

Comments:
Mike:  I liked how you explained the history of relational databases and how it emerged to make managing large amounts of data more efficient.  With the amount of information be stored continually increasing, managing it and accessing what you need can definitely be a hassle.

Audrey:  Explaining the difference between relational and hierarchical databases is important to know when deciding what type of database may be used for your company depending on how you want your database to perform.  It was nice to hear you mention some advantages of each. 

References:

Chapman, Daniel R. "What Is SQL and Why It Is Important?" Ezine Articles, 28 Feb. 2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2014.

Chapple, Mike. "Structured Query Language (SQL)." About.com Databases. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2014.

Shaw, Zed A. "Introduction: Haters Gonna Hate, Or Why You Still Need SQL." Learn SQL the Hard Way. N.p., 2010. Web. 08 Feb. 2014.