Database Design for Mere Mortals
A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design
by Michael J. Hernandez · first published 1996
71% recommend24% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
Practical, approachable introduction to relational database design that gives beginners a running start. It is the most helpful first book on modeling for people new to databases or self-taught developers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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> DBs I've shunned most of my career. Database Design for Mere Mortals: https://www.amazon.com/Database-Design-Mere-Mortals-Hands/dp... This is the book I recommend to everyone who is shy about DB's - I have owned several copies and given every one away. It breaks down…
on “Ask HN: First mobile side-project: What stack to choose in 2019?” ↗Apparently there's a 4th edition coming, but if you like the form-factor of a book-length text I'd throw a recommendation to "Database Design for Mere Mortals"[1]. I read the 1st edition from the late 90's, but I'd imagine it's still just as good. It approaches database modeling from a practical non-technical perspective, and I found it helped me learn data…
on “Old, Good Database Design” ↗Database Design for Mere Mortals http://www.amazon.com/Database-Design-Mere-Mortals-Hands/dp/...
on “Ask HN: good book or resources to get my SQL skills to the next level” ↗I always thought that "Database Design for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design" by Michael J. Hernandez was a great starting point. Sometimes it's nice to have a real book and you can't go wrong with a used one from Amazon for under…
on “Ask HN: I want to start learning about databases, where should I start?” ↗Two of the best resources I've ever seen/read: Database Design for Mere Mortals - https://www.amazon.com/Database-Design-Mere-Mortals-Hands/dp... (not an affiliate link) Legend of the Drunken Query Master - http://www.joinfu.com/2008/09/slides-from-drunken-query-mast...
on “Ask HN: What is the best online resource to learn advanced SQL?” ↗Database Design for Mere Mortals by Ray Hernandez. Best book I've found to give a running start.
on “Mode Studio – Python, R and SQL Editor” ↗Database Design for Mere Mortals by Ray Hernandez
on “Things to know about databases” ↗I would suggest something more directly applicable. Textbooks are useful, but if you're looking for something to get the most out of today: SQL Performance Explained Art of SQL Database Design for Mere Mortals
on “Databases, Types, and the Relational Model: The Third Manifesto [pdf]” ↗Huge +1 to Database Design for Mere Mortals. This was the second database book I read (the first was SQL Antipatterns, not a bad book but also not a good first book) and far and away the most helpful. It took me 3 days to read, I had a miserable…
on “Databases, Types, and the Relational Model: The Third Manifesto [pdf]” ↗There are just so many... Headfirst series (JavaScript, HTML, jQuery... all of them) Discover Meteor Refactoring: improving the design of existing code Database design for mere mortals MIT books (SICP, Algorithms) Oh, and of course... Human Interface Guidelines by Apple. One of the best UX books on app design. All books are ebooks for me, so this list is impossibly long.
on “Ask HN: What's the best technical eBook you have read?” ↗Read "Database Design for Mere Mortals". Its one of the few books I keep buying and giving away.
on “Ask HN: What are things a programmer should do at least once?” ↗I recommend Database Design for Mere Mortals https://www.amazon.com/Database-Design-Mere-Mortals-Hands-eb...
on “Ask HN: What is the best online resource to learn advanced SQL?” ↗I'm planning to buy them all, anything else you'd add to this? database -navathe/elmasri - connally begg - date - korth - gehrke/ramakrishnan - Database Design for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design 2nd Edition - database systems peter rob, coronel
on “Ask HN: Best textbooks for database for CS course?” ↗Go read: Database Design for Mere Mortals. ERD's are your friend. Learn how to generate one, and how to read it. The relations (not relational, not algebra) are IN the design they are IN the ERD (as a tool to visualize). Even if your not visual…
on “SQL is syntactic sugar for relational algebra” ↗> I don’t know sql. Buy the book "Database Design for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design" Read it, read it again, read it till you can normalize in your sleep. Candidly the RDBMS isnt hard, and once you understand how to build one SQL clicks.
on “DynamoDB? The one table solution? Amplify sucks?” ↗