Database Concepts and Programming

This post is a reflection of a module I completed in the first year of my degree. It was by far my personal favourite module to do and was also my highest marked work overall. While I had used Microsoft Access as part of my previous work and was therefore familiar with basic aspects of databases such as Primary and Foreign Keys, this module introduced more complexity.

Assignment 1 (A+)

The first assignment focused on planning out the entire database structure. I had to design everything from the ground up, including an entity-relationship diagram (ERD), data dictionaries, business rules, and a breakdown showing how the database met third normal form (3NF). I also created a short video presentation where I discussed the legal and security concerns involved in storing user data — including GDPR, hashing passwords, and protecting sensitive information.

This task was a great introduction to how much thought goes into designing a system before any code is written. It helped me think carefully about relationships between tables, primary keys, and what kind of data each entity should store. The video side of things also pushed me to communicate technical concepts more clearly, which is a skill I have enhanced over my two years of the degree.

Entity Definitions

Data Dictionary for Characters table

Relationship Definitions

Business Rules and Assumptions

 

Initial ERD

Assignment 2 (A+)

For the second assignment, it was time to actually build the database based on my plans. I used a database management system to set everything up, applied the ACID principles for data integrity, and tested the system using SQL queries — including JOINs, LIKE statements, statistics, updates, and deletes. I also carried out backup and recovery tasks to make sure the database could handle any disasters.

This part of the module really boosted my confidence with SQL. Writing and running queries helped me understand how a well-planned database works in practice. Doing backup and recovery tasks also showed me how important it is to keep systems secure and recoverable, especially if you’re dealing with real user data.

Updated ERD

Complete Database

Conclusion

Looking back, there are definitely things I could improve or add, but overall, I’m really proud of what I achieved in this module. From the start, I put a lot of time and effort into making sure the work was as detailed and polished as possible. Our tutor informed us that the A+ grade wasn’t just about ticking boxes, but about going above and beyond in terms of effort and attention to detail. Knowing that, I made it my goal to give every task my full focus, and I’m glad that hard work paid off. Getting an A+ overall felt like a real reward for the time I put in.