Usage-Driven Database Design: From Logical Data Modeling Through Physical Schema Definition - Paperback

by George Tillmann (Author)

How do you design good databases? This book breaks new ground by presenting a way of developing databases, from start to finish, where the start is logical data modeling and the finish is a database schema that reflects not only the definition of the data uncovered in logical data modeling, but also how the database will be used by applications and end users. The usage-driven design framework in this book provides guidance on mapping from logical to physical designs while simultaneously incorporating knowledge of the target business processes. The framework is practical, pragmatic, and proven over the author's many years of experience.

Back Jacket

Design great databases--from logical data modeling through physical schema definition. You will learn a framework that finally cracks the problem of merging data and process models into a meaningful and unified design that accounts for how data is actually used in production systems.
Key to the framework is a method for taking the logical data model that is a static look at the definition of the data, and merging that static look with the process models describing how the data will be used in actual practice once a given system is implemented. The approach solves the disconnect between the static definition of data in the logical data model and the dynamic flow of the data in the logical process models.
The design framework in this book can be used to create operational databases for transaction processing systems, or for data warehouses in support of decision support systems. The information manager can be a flat file, Oracle Database, IMS, NoSQL, Cassandra, Hadoop, or any other DBMS.
Usage-Driven Database Design emphasizes practical aspects of design, and speaks to what works, what doesn't work, and what to avoid at all costs. Included in the book are lessons learned by the author over his 30+ years in the corporate trenches. Everything in the book is grounded on good theory, yet demonstrates a professional and pragmatic approach to design that can come only from decades of experience.

• Presents an end-to-end framework from logical data modeling through physical schema definition.
  
• Includes lessons learned, techniques, and tricks that can turn a database disaster into a success.
  
• Applies to all types of database management systems, including NoSQL such as Cassandra and Hadoop, and mainstream SQL databases such as Oracle and SQL Server

Author Biography

George Tillmann is a retired Booz, Allen Hamilton partner; a former programmer, analyst, management consultant; and CIO who managed Booz Allen's global IT organization. He brings more than 30 years experience as a database administrator, database consultant, and database product designer. He has written two books, was a Computerworld columnist, and has articles published in CIO, Infoworld, Techworld, Data Base, The Standard, Database Programming & Design and is a former member of the ANSI/X3/SPARC Data Base Systems Study Group.