The hottest Database Design Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Sentinel-free schemas: a thought experiment

Minimal Modeling • 393 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Data Management Database Design Data Integrity Data processing
  1. NULL values in databases create compatibility issues and add complexity to conditional operations
  2. Sentinel values, like empty strings or placeholders, are similar to NULL values and can lead to incorrect results
  3. Creating sentinel-free schemas involves separating attributes into individual tables and explicitly defining reasons for missing data

Designing database for Google Calendar, drafts

Minimal Modeling • 98 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Database Design
  1. The author is working on a detailed text about designing a database for a product similar to Google Calendar, following concepts from a specific book.
  2. The current text has four sections with more to come and will also become a chapter in a book, with chapters shared via a mailing list.
  3. Feedback is sought, especially from those new to database modeling, on the outlined topics like all-day events, time-based events, and more.

The scope of the data modeling book

Minimal Modeling • 196 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Data Modeling Database Design
  1. Data modeling involves layers like actual business domain, logical model, physical model, and database storage optimization.
  2. Focus primarily on the logical model and how it maps to the physical model for practical advice on table structures.
  3. Key areas within the scope of data modeling include basic logical model, handling either/or/or data, modeling polymorphic data, template repetitions, basic physical model, and secondary data.

Book update

Minimal Modeling • 98 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Database Design
  1. The author is working on a book about Database Design using a Minimal Modeling approach
  2. The course focused on logical modeling, secondary data, and table design strategies
  3. Logical modeling helps address complex questions and lays the foundation for successful table design
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Minimal Modeling: processes and deliverables

Minimal Modeling • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Database Design Documentation
  1. Creating a logical model from textual descriptions helps database novices and streamlines schema design.
  2. Designing physical table schemas based on the logical model involves making choices and adapting to business changes.
  3. Extracting a logical model from a real-world database using minimal modeling can improve onboarding and communication in a lightweight, collaborative way.