Data Model Patterns: Conventions of Thought (Hardcover)

by David C. Hay (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"occasionally a book comes along that can be considered a classic; that isn't tied to any particular product or version. David Hay's book, Data Model Patterns: Conventions of Thought, is such a book. . . . It should be mandatory reading before starting any major data modeling or application development task. No other author has gone beyond the theoretical methodology of creating a data model to actually present and analyze real-world models that we can use every day. This book is well written and well illustrated with numerous examples of the models discussed. This is a 'must buy' for your professional library."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Dorset House Publishing Company, Incorporated (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932633293
• ISBN-13: 978-0932633293
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #262,476 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #16 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Algorithms > Data Structures
  #82 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Software Design, Testing & Engineering > Structured Design

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn to think like a data modeler, February 25, 2005

By	heartburn - See all my reviews

I can understand why this book has gotten some mixed reviews. The author addresses many common modeling problems. But readers looking for instant solutions to those problems will probably be disappointed. Those looking for oop patterns are reading the wrong book. And anyone looking for a beginner's introduction to data modeling will be completely lost. But if you've been feeling as if your database designs could be better, but you're not sure how, you need this book.

Mr. Hay covers many real-world modeling problems. His discussions of these problems give incredible insight into the thought process of a professional data modeler. That is the true value of this book.

I first read this book about three years ago and now I am totally embarrassed by every database I created before. I've re-read it many times since and my copy is beaten and dog-eared. Thankfully, it's a hardcover book.

Make sure you read all the footnotes in the book. Some of them are hysterically funny.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Potentially valuable, but primarily as a reference., May 31, 2005

By	Christopher Wanko "-C" (Nutley, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I've done some data modeling, and much more process modeling, so I was familiar with Mr. Hay's objectives with respect to data and restricting the model to logical representations of data, whatever that may be.

About six chapters into this book, I realize that while I could continue through to the end, I would likely find this more useful as a companion to a problem. I think the majority of non-academic readers, software practitioners if you will, will extract the necessary value from owning this book given a specific objective, i.e. I have to develop a work management model from scratch, and these are my (current) business rules.

The book covers so many kinds of models that it's entirely possible a reader will have no practical frame of reference, such as the chapter on accounting. Modern accounting software is primarily off-the-shelf, so developing a data model for it isn't something very common today. However, the smart developer understands that living "in the spaces between" software is a very good line of business, so to that end knowing what an ideal data model might have is certainly valuable ammunition when weighing vendor claims and evaluating solutions.

Because it lacks that sort of accessible readability, I am withholding a star. I'd have withheld a half-star if it were possible; I believe the book has great value to a developer or analyst.

Fred

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best I have read on the subject, November 7, 1999

By	Yves Chaix (Managua, Nicaragua) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been in Data modeling for now more than 10 years and thought I knew what I was talking about. Hay proved me wrong. Even the Universal model which I was so proud to have discovered on my own is there in almost all possible uses and combination (minus one, but I'll only share it with the VERY interested ones). I have had this book at hand for almost a year now and it is one of the few I consult almost daily. My only grudge is it is based on the Oracle methodology. But this is a very personal grudge.