The endless cycle of idea and action,
Endless invention, endless experiment,
Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;
Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;
Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word.
All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,
All our ignorance brings us nearer to death,
But nearness to death, no nearer to God.
Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
The cycles of Heaven in twenty centuries
Bring us farther from God and nearer to the Dust.
 – T. S. Eliot, Choruses from “The Rock”, 1934

Work through the following materials, recording answers to the questions so that you can bring them to class and submit them for review.

  1. Chapter 1

    1. Compare and contrast data, databases, database (management) systems and information systems.

    2. Compare and contrast database systems with the following, using the main characteristics of the database approach in your discussion.
      • data structures and algorithms
      • traditional file systems

    3. Identify the stakeholders of database systems.

  2. Chapter 2

    1. Explain the significance of the categories of data models. Which type of model is displayed in Figure 2.1?

    2. Explain the structure and significance of the three-schema architecture.

    3. Explain the tiers used in a typical web-based information system.

  3. If you’ve never used Git or GitHub, create an account for yourself and review the relevant materials referenced in the CS 262 guide (see “Project Management Tools - GitHub”). Please create a cs342 repo in your account and add your GitHub ID to this Google Sheet. We’ll pull your assignment submissions from https://github.com/yourLoginId/cs342. See the policies page for details on assignment submission.

These guides are graded as part of the lab score. Be prepared to bring them to class and to submit them either as text files (guide01.txt) or (low-resolution) images (guide01.png) as specified in the course policies. Note that guide solutions will not be accepted late, but it’s still wise to complete them because they may turn up both in class and on exams.