I received this email from Toon Koppelaars yesterday about a book I’d been hearing about for a while.
Lex de Haan and myself started writing a book entitled “Applied Mathematics for Database Professionals” (AM4DP) at the end of 2005. Finishing this book took a bit longer than anticipated, but I’m relieved that I can finally say that it’s finished (not available, but will be soon). You can find some information about this book here and here.
To give you an impression on what it’s about, here’s an overview of the chapters.
Chapter 0: Introduction.
Chapter 1: Logic an Introduction.
Chapter 2: Set Theory an Introduction.
Chapter 3: Some more Logic.
Chapter 4: Some more Set Theory.
Chapter 5: Tables and Database States .
Chapter 6: Data Integrity Predicates.
Chapter 7: Specification of Example Database Design.
Chapter 8: Transition Constraints.
Chapter 9: Data Retrieval.
Chapter 10: Data Manipulation.
Chapter 11: Implementing Database Designs in Oracle.
Chapter 12: Summary and Conclusions.
The main theme of this book is about how you can use mathematics (set theory and logic) to formally specify database designs and data integrity constraints: it is based on a book written by Bert de Brock (Foundations of Semantic Databases). The AM4DP book has been rigorously reviewed by Chris Date, Hugh Darwen, Cary Millsap and Frans Remmen.
The manuscript is done, as well as the copy edit. Right now other people are starting to work hard on getting this book to the printers (still takes two months).
Actually, I think this advert fits the guidelines of being for something that I’m interested in. I know it’s going to end up at the bottom of a growing pile of unread books, though 🙁
You send send me your copy, I’ll read the book and summarize you the highlights. 🙂
Can wait for this book to come out. I hadn’t realized this was based on Semantic Database concepts. Very, very cool. I highly recommend checking out the Semantic Web and DB stuff out there.
Ted,
Note: the other book was written in the 80’s…
The term ‘semantic databases’ then had a *different* meaning than it has how.
So you might find out it’s a little ‘less cool’.
Toon
Any book that starts with Chapter 0 is surely a must read – it proves that at least the authors understand sets and counting.
Ted,
You send send me your copy, I’ll read the book and summarize you the highlights. 🙂
I don’t even know if he’ll take the hint yet! That’s the problem with these bribes that you request rather than being offered to you – you never know if it’ll work.
Cheers,
Doug
well seeing as i just might have lots and lots of time on my hands to review books, but no incoming funds tobuy any, i’ll take any bribes i can get.😉 [and yes i will be at miracle, but may have to forgo some of the extra things.:-(]
Hi Doug,
Did the copy I sent arrive yet?
Toon
Not yet, but there was a postal strike yesterday which probably didn’t help.