Advanced Database Skills: NoSQL and NewSQL Data Systems

Catalog description

This course examines how database systems evolved to meet the workloads of modern applications. Limitations of relational databases led to NoSQL systems that are highly scalable and provide flexible data modeling but sacrifice important consistency properties. More recently, “NewSQL” data systems seek to understand and address fundamental scalability bottlenecks while maintaining relational database consistency. This course will describe shortcomings of relational databases for certain data management tasks and the specific challenges addressed by NoSQL and NewSQL database systems. Case studies will investigate both established and state-of-the-art systems. Students will critique and present existing work in the area and complete a research project individually or in teams that explores an outstanding problem in the area.