Help:COAP-3180

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Introduction

This is are resource page for my Fall II 2007 Web Databases course (COAP 3180) at Webster University, Geneva. This page does not replace the official syllabus file, but it allows students to navigate more efficiently through the materials

This program is provisional and will be adjusted on a weekly basis.

Course level outcomes

At the completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Use simple Web 2.0 database services
2. Manipulate data using SQL operations and create simple SQL databases in a DBMS.
3. Understand the architecture of a simple web application (HTML client / Web server / Script / Database). Be able use a LAMP/WAMP software bundle and install a web application.
4. Generate a very simple web application that can connect to a database management system (DBMS) through an ODBC API.
5. Understand/recall XML basics, like converting text files to XML, editing an XML file using a schema and displaying XML data.
6. Be able to query and update XML data files and XML Databases using XQuery and XQuery Update.
7. Understand the purpose of address and authentication servers and be able to use LDAP-based address books in an e-mail client.

These outcomes defined in the syllabus can be translated to more practical outcomes:

• Create simple database applications:
  • create typed tables with web 2.0 services, enter data and connect these with your own web pages
  • generate very simple PHP/MySQL applications with generator software
  • define simple tables with a web-based database administration software
• Install and/or use XAMP (Apache/MySQL/PhP) systems:
  • get some insights on simple(!) web server configuration;
  • understand how database systems like MySQL work;
  • understand what the PHP scripting engine can do (and its dangers).
• Configure LAMP/WAMP-based applications (various kinds of portals):
  • Create databases and/or learn how to connect to a database with a user name and a password
  • Give the right answers to installation scripts
  • Configure the applications (modules, skins, users, etc.)
• Repair data of web applications:
  • e.g. remove SPAM with SQL queries.
• Extend applications with modules (know how to submit SQL code to a DB management tool)
• Understand various roles of XML in modern architectures, e.g.:
  • transform database output from XML to HTML;
  • learn XQuery/XQuery update basics.
• Understand the role of LDAP and similar authentication/address book applications

... At the end of the course you should have acquired the necessary foundations to do this.

Week 1

Light-weight databases and web 2.0

Topics Covered

(1) Introduction

• Internet, the WWW and web databases
• Slides: http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/te/files/webdatabases-intro.pdf (PDF, copies of the slides distributed in class)

(2) Web 2.0 vs. "traditional Internet"

• An ever increasing amount of applications are available through the Internet. Many of these applications can be shared, others are by definition "social software" (e.g. wikis, youtube, flickr, blogs).
• Reading: O'Reilly Tim (2005), What is Web 2.0, better take the print version.
• Additional resources for those who want to explore this topic further: This wiki, e.g. start from the rich internet application article.

(3) Simple on-line database services

• Learn how to create and use simple tabular databases with a web 2.0 service
• Practical details are explained in the homework 1 page

Classroom activities and homework

Classroom activity 1: Zoho Creator

• Take an account with Zoho:
  • http://www.zoho.com/
• Create a database with Zoho Creator

Classroom activity 2: Pageflakes

• Create an account with Pageflakes: :
  • http://student.pageflakes.com/ (variant for students)
  • http://www.pageflakes.com (variant for all other, the only difference is the initial choice of widgets, pick either one ....)
• Configure the first page as private page
• Create a new page, import the Zoho database and make this page public (i.e. a pagecast)

Homework

See homework 1

Week 2

(provisional)

Topics Covered

Short overview of databases

• What is a Database?
• Types of Databases
• Database Models
• Relational data base management systems (RDBMS) and ownership of databases

Web applications

• Application architectures / frameworks overview
• WAMP/LAMP software bundles and applications
• Installation of web applications

Reading

Homework

Configuration of a portal in a WAMP system or with an Internet provider.

Week 3

(provisional)

Topics Covered

Relational databases

• Introduction to SQL:
• Retrieving and modifying Data
• Creation of SQL tables with MySQL
• Relational tables
• Overview of other RDBMS

Reading

Homework

Create a simple 1-table MySQL database with a database administration tool.

Week 4

(provisional)

Topics Covered

Working with the LAMP bundle

• Principles of PHP programming
• Simple PHP/MySQL interaction

Other application frameworks (.Net, J2EE)

Reading

To be announced

Tests

Mid Term Exam

Homework

Generation of a simple web application with a code generator. This homework is a follow-up of homework 3.

Week 5

(provisional)

Topics Covered

Introduction to XML

• Crash Course introduction to XML and XSLT
• Editing XML files using a schema (DTD and/or XML Schema).
• Querying XML Documents using XPath and simple XSLT templates

Reading

To be announced

Homework

Create a valid XML file with an XML editor and modify an XSLT template to retrieve a fragment.

Week 6

(provisional)

Topics Covered

Introduction to XQuery and XQuery Update

XML databases

Reading

To be announced

Homework

XML database query exercise. This homework is a follow-up of homework 5.

Week 7

(provisional)

Topics Covered

Database to XML Sources

Working with Relational Data as XML

Reading

To be announced

Homework

Integration of an XML data source in a web page. This homework is a follow-up of homework 3.

Week 8

(provisional)

Topics Covered

Authentication systems and address books

Review of web application architectures

Reading

None

Tests

Final Exam

Homework and exams overview

Breakdown

Homework (six best)	60%
Midterm and Final exams	40%

Exams

There will be two exams counting each for 20%:

• Midterm and final
• Exams will be paper-based questions.
• All materials will be allowed.

List of homework

I will hand out one homework/week and we will start working on it in class.

• homework 1