Database Application Methodology

Summary

• Assumptions
• The Software Process
• Overview of Methodology
• Analysis - Information Flow Diagram
• In and Out

Assumptions

• Business processes are well-designed
• Documents are known
  • Documents are input to, or output from a db application
• Tasks are known
  • Tasks are the processing done using the documents
• System boundary is known
• One db schema unifying all views can be designed
  • Difficult with different interests, goals, power, politics

The Software Process

Waterfall:

• Business Process (re-)design
• Analysis
• Specification
• Design
• Implementation
• Testing
• Operation
• Maintenance

Overview of Methodology

In db application development process, data is always first.

• Analysis
  • Information Flow Diagram
• Specification
  • Tasks
  • ER Diagram
• Design
  • Abstract Code w/ SQL
  • Relational Schema
• Implementation
  • PHP Code w/ SQL
  • MySQL Relational Platform

Analysis - Information Flow Diagram

Maps documents to tasks to db

Example:

IFD for project:

In and Out

• Everything in the database must come from somewhere
• Everything on the input documents must go somewhere
• Everything in the database must be used for something
• Everything on the output documents must come from somewhere