Open Source Database Management Software available on the Net

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PPrrooff.. DD SShhiivvaalliinnggaaiiaahh
Department of Studies in Library and Information
Science, Mangalore University, Mangalore -574 199,
Karnataka, India
umeshai@yahoo.com d_shivaling@yahoo.com

IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn
Online databases are organized collections of
computerized information or data such as
periodical articles, books, graphics and
multimedia that can be searched to retrieve
information. Databases can be general or
subject oriented with bibliographic citations,
abstracts, and or full text. Online databases
that are retrieved on the World Wide Web are
generally non-fee based, lack in-depth
indexing, and do not index proprietary
resources.

IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn
Databases are programs that store
information that needs to be accessed and
reproduced in many different ways. Database
is a structured collection of records or data
that is stored in a computer system. The
structure is achieved by organizing the data
according to a database model. The model in
most common use today is the relational
model. Other models such as the hierarchical
model and the network model use a more
explicit representation of relationships.

Database MMaannaaggeemmeenntt SSyysstteemm
((DDBBMMSS))
A DBMS is a set of software programs that controls
the organization, storage, management, and retrieval
of data in a database. DBMS are categorized
according to their data structures or types. It is a set
of prewritten programs that are used to store,
update and retrieve a Database. The DBMS accepts
requests for data from the application program and
instructs the operating system to transfer the
appropriate data. When a DBMS is used, information
systems can be changed much more easily as the
organization's information requirements change.
New categories of data can be added to the database
without disruption to the existing system.

History of Database Systems
• 1940's, 50's Initial use of computers as
calculators. Limited data focus on
algorithms. Science, military applications
• 1960's Business uses. Organizational data,
customer data, sales, inventory,
accounting, etc. File system based, high
emphasis on applications programs to
extract and assimilate data. Larger
amounts of data, relatively simple
calculations
• 1970's The relational model. Data separated
into individual tables. Related by keys.
Initially required heavy system resources.
Examples: Oracle, Sybase, Informix, IBM
DB2

History of Database Systems
• 1980's Microcomputers - the IBM PC, Apple
Macintosh. Database program such as
DBase, Paradox, FoxPro, MS Access.
Individual user can create, maintain small
databases
• Late- 1980's Local area networks.
Workgroups sharing resources such as
files, printers, e-mail
• Client/Server Database resides on a central
server, applications programs run on client
PCs attached to the server over a LAN
• 1990's Internet and World Wide Web make
databases of all kinds available from a
single type of client - the Web Browser

SSttrruuccttuurree ooff ddaattaabbaasseess
• Understanding the structure of a database
will help you locate and retrieve information
more efficiently.
• The information about each item in a
database is called a record. For example, the
Library Catalog has a record for each item
(each book, journal, newspaper, video, map,
etc.) located in the library.
• A record is composed of individual elements
of information called fields. All the records in
a given database are composed of a common
set of fields. These fields can be used as
access points when searching a database.

Types of databases
• Bibliographic databases - provide citations
(a listing of information about the item), and
sometimes include abstracts (summaries)
or descriptions of the items.
• Full-text databases - contain the full text of
a work.
• Numeric databases - provide mostly
numeric data (numbers) such as statistics
or financial data.

Types of databases
• Image databases - could include art prints,
photos, animations, and other types of
images
• Audio/Video databases - could include
audio clips of sound effects and music
samples or video excerpts from speeches,
television shows, or other broadcast
media.
• Mixed databases - combine two or more of
the other database types.

Evolution of the database technology
During the past three decades, the database
technology for information systems has
undergone four generations of evolution. The
transition from one generation to the next has
always been necessitated by the ever-increasing
complexity of database applications and the cost
of implementing, maintaining, and extending
these applications. The first generation was file
system, such as ISAM and VSAM. The second
generation was hierarchical database systems,
such as IMS and System 2000. The third
generation was CODASYL database systems,
such as IDS, TOTAL, ADABAS, IDMS, etc.

RDBMS
A RDBMS is a DBMS that is based on the
relational model as introduced by E. F. Codd.
A RDBMS may be a DBMS in which data is
stored in the form of tables and the
relationship among the data is also stored in
the form of tables. Relational Database is a
database that groups of data using common
attributes found in the data set. The resulting
"clumps" of organized data are much easier
for people to understand. The software used
to do this grouping is called a RDBMS. The
term "relational database" often refers to this
type of software.

RDBMS
DBMS is computer software that manages
databases. DBMS may use any of a variety of
database models, such as the network model
or relational model. In large systems, a
DBMS allows users and other software to
store and retrieve data in a structured way. A
DBMS is a computer program (or more
typically, a suite of them) designed to
manage a database, a large set of structured
data, and run operations on the data
requested by numerous users.

Web Database
A web database is a data store or information
repository that can be accessed via a query
language or on application program. Unlike
conventional database systems a web
database access is not typically performed
using queries typed at a command line or
through custom designed programming
interfaces. Web databases are accessed via
other Web applications; especially forms that
are developed using standardized HTML tags.
HTML form interfaces enable is to create
applications that integrate database
functionality and provide access to
organizational data repositories on behalf of
Web clients.

Web Database
A web database is designed for:
•better management of large document-based
information repositories to internal and/or
external users of the information.
•better use of legacy database systems, the
information they contain, and existing
applications.

Web Database
•unlocking the potential of unused information
held within organizational databases.
Information from databases within various
parts of an organization, such as information
relating to finance, human resources, project
management etc, can be consolidated using
Web-based applications and served to users
as though it is available from a single source.
•extending the functionality of the Web server
so that the information is made available to
internal and external users

The three-tier arc hitecture model of a web database application

Conclusion
Advancement of Web technologies over the
last decade has moved the database
technology from close doors to outdoors.
Presently most of the websites require some
basic level support at the backend through
the databases. This process is also known as
publishing database content through a Web
server. The most basic feature a DBMS has is
the underlying data schema.

Conclusion
This paper discusses the advantages of open
source DBMS software and its availability,
use, features, supporting interfaces, type of
software. It is suggested that a database
website offers many advantages over one
built from static HTML pages. These include a
consistency of style and content, the ability
to present different views of the same data,
devolved editing and enhanced security.

Open Source Database Management Software available on the Net

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Open Source Database Management Software available on the Net