Topic 07

Database

Keywords

• Database management systems (DBMS)
• Data archival
• Data requests
• Management of complex data

Motivations

The database has become the center of focus of nearly every company. It contains all the data without which the company can hardly survive; it is the very basis of the commerce of the company. All this data, whether originating from clients or from suppliers, is at best transformed into information useful everywhere in the company. However, this information does not age very well, and the data has a lifespan that gets shorter and shorter in this world where everything is accelerating.

In order for this database to be profitable to clients, to the company itself (in particular if it is a small company), and to its collaborators, two conditions must be present: the accessibility of the database, and its integration into other environments. These two conditions require the usage of a DBMS or "open" tools that makes it possible to distribute information without barriers.

The purpose of this theme is to take the census of existing free tools allowing the archival and interrogation of data. Bridges that allow simplified access to a database will also be discussed, as will those between databases and programming languages.

Subtopics

• Management of large databases
• Object-oriented databases

Program