A Web-Based Application for Computer-Aided Design of Relational Databases

Databases allow applications to store and retrieve data in an efficient and reliable way, among many other things. Even though recent years have witnessed a rise in the use of NoSQL database technologies, relational databases are still relevant and very useful in several respects. In order to make effective use of database technology, one has to master the skill of schema structure design. Concepts at the heart of such design have been developed and consolidated over time, but no software packages have been deployed with the precise intent of guiding and assisting users – more or less experienced – throughout the entire process. This thesis work focuses on the design and development of a tool that serves two main purposes. On the one hand, it offers functionalities specific to the domain, from ER schema drawing, restructuring, and translation, to logical schema editing and exporting. On the other hand, it allows users to learn the theoretical concepts of database design and prevents them from making conventional mistakes. Rather than just a piece of software, we strived to deliver a great, innovative product. User experience had a significant impact on development decisions, and interface design was driven by an extreme push for simplicity and efficiency. It was deployed as a Web Application for several reasons: they are quicker and easier to build, they work in the browser (always available on all devices) and they can be updated seamlessly. Although all requirements set out initially were met, there certainly is a great deal of room for improvement. Some edge cases have not been covered and a great number of features can still be implemented. Also, a lot of emphasis was put on the educational aspect, but – with some small changes – the software has everything it takes to become a fully-fledged professional product.