Transaction processing
by Gray, Jim · first published 1993
72% recommend28% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A deep, research-level reference on how database engines implement transactions, covering what is needed to build a classic relational engine. Still relevant despite its 1993 date; suits engineers wanting internals.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…"Compilers: Principles, Techniques, & Tools" by Aho et al. (i.e., "the dragon book") * "Data Flow Analysis: Theory and Practice" by Khedker et al. * "Understanding MySQL Internals" by Sasha Pachev. * "Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques" by Gray and Reuter. * "Fundamentals of Wireless Communication" by Tse and Viswanath. * "Genetic Programming: An Intrduction" by Banzhaf et al. * "Applied Crytography" by Schneier.…
on “Ask HN: What language-agnostic programming books should I read?” ↗Dr. Gray wrote "Transaction Processing"[1] that has proven indispensable in my career and a generally great book. I didn't know the man, but he influenced me deeply from afar. RIP. [1]: http://www.amazon.com/Transaction-Processing-Concepts-Techni...
on “RIP Jim Gray - Closure in Disappearance of Computer Scientist ” ↗…specially starting with a line like "How to become a great software developer". "Read only books written in the last 10 years" - umm I have to disagree with this one. Greatly. A good example is the book: "Transaction Processing" by Jim Gray. It was published in 1993, and it is still relevant. Also NO Big Name in the Agile Community has endorse it. But I would recommend everybody to at least read the introduction. "Java is dead"…
on “How To Become A Great Software Developer” ↗Applied Cryptography, Schneier Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques, Gray and Reuter
on “Ask HN: What is the equivalent K&R book for (insert any topic here)?” ↗For implementation of database systems, Gray and Reuter's Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques http://www.amazon.com/Transaction-Processing-Concepts-Techni.... For the ideas behind relational databases, I like C.J. Date's Introduction to Database Systems, http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Database-Systems-C-Date/d....
on “Ask HN: What are the best texts to learn the ins and outs of databases and OSs?” ↗Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques [0] by Jim Gray and Andreas Reuter. Not so much relational algebra, but everything you need to know to implement a classic relational engine. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Transaction-Processing-Concepts-Techn...
on “Spark as a Compiler: Joining a Billion Rows per Second on a Laptop” ↗I like "Architecture of a Database System" by Stonebraker, Hamilton, and Hellerstein (http://db.cs.berkeley.edu/papers/fntdb07-architecture.pdf) for an overview and then "Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques" by Gray and Reuter (https://www.amazon.com/Transaction-Processing-Concepts-Techn...) for the storage-side of things. Granted these are a little old (especially G&R) so extra…
on “Readings in Database Systems, 5th Edition (2015)” ↗…the Practice of Concurrency Control and Recovery (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems) ISBN-13: 978-1558605084 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1558605088/?coliid=IYEILMZI5DVNM&c... and Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems) ISBN-13: 978-1558601901 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1558601902/?coliid=I2GWJZ9XJ5D4JI&...
on “LearnDB: Learn how to build a database” ↗Operating Systems: Design and Implementation by Andrew Tanenbaum Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach by Hennessy and Patterson An Introduction to Database Systems by C.J. Date Transaction Processing: Principles and Techniques by Gray and Reuter Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation by Hopcroft and Ullman
on “Ask HN: What are your favourite textbooks?” ↗“Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques” by Jim Gray & Andreas Reuter. Rightly the Bible of database systems.
on “Ask HN: Which books do you consider real gems in your field of work/study?” ↗Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach by Hennessey and Patterson. Transaction Processing: Principles and Techniques by Gray and Reuter.
on “Ask HN: Best technical books you've read so far?” ↗…that stick in my brain from 20 years ago: Introduction to the Theory of Computation by Michael Sipser The classic Hennessy and Patterson: Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach Gray & Reuter: Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques I also think the Gang of Four book always was and still is a tremendously useful read. & SICP, natch.
on “Ask HN: What are the most eye-opening textbooks you have ever read?” ↗…research-level books are: The "red book": Readings in Database Systems, which is a collection of basic papers from the field. This is used by DB programs in top schools (eg. Berkeley). The "Jim Gray book": Transaction Processing. Look up Jim Gray to see why this may be worth looking into.
on “Ask HN: Help me find a good databases textbook” ↗…server than using a stored procedure. Lots of people seem to not realize that db roundtrips are expensive, and should be avoided whenever possible. One of the best illustrations of this I've found is in Transaction Processing book by Jim Gray and Andreas Reuters where they illustrate the relative cost of getting data from CPU vs CPU cache vs RAM vs cross host query.
on “My £4 a month server can handle 4.2M requests a day” ↗Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques (Jim Gray & Andreas Reuter) isn't just one of the best database textbooks, it is one of the best computer science textbooks. It is an Important Work. On the other books, it…
on “Ask HN: Help me find a good databases textbook” ↗