CS224 - Notes and Resources

Text: "Databases: Design, Development, & Deployment Using Microsoft Access" by Peter Rob and Elie Semaan


General Hacker Stuff

The Jargon File 
This is the place to go to learn 'hacker-speak' if you're so inclined.  There's also a print version but the online one is updated more frequently. 

IBM DeveloperWorks - A great resource for developers, with articles, tutorials and links to software.


Course-Related Links

MS Access Tutorial - Just what it says, a nice introduction to working with Microsoft Access, using PDF files and some downloadable programs.

Access 2000 Tutorial - From the Florida Gulf Coast University, a tutorial specifically aimed at Access 2000.

Understanding Entity Relationship Diagrams - A little technical, but another look at ERDs.

How to Draw ERDs - A nice page with a good overview of the symbols and relationships that go into an ERD

An ERD Tool - Links to a page where you can download a demo of a program that allows you to easily create Entity Relationship Diagrams

Normalization Overview - From the University of Texas at Austin, a decent overview of database normalization with a good example.

Why You Need Database Normalization - An article from the online version of SQL Magazine.  

General Resources

ComputerWorld - If you want to see how computers are really used in real businesses, this is a good source. Essentially an offshoot of Computerworld magazine (available as a free subscription if you can convince them that you influence buying decisions where you work) , this site is pretty platform independent and has a decent career section, as well as a 'gossip' column where actual IT folk write in anonymously and describe the various ways that management can screw up the techies.

Advogato - This is an interesting on-line discussion forum, mainly dealing with software development.

CPUniverse - If you were thinking of going into contracting or consulting, this is a great site. Affiliated with Contract Professional magazine (not a free subscription but well worth the cost) this site has tips on the hottest skill areas, what it's like to work in different parts of the country and even how to negotiate a contract and handle your tax situation. There's even a free weekly e-mail newsletter.

SoftPro Books - This is an excellent source for computer and networking books. You can order online or go to one of their local stores. (They have one at Yosemite and Arapahoe in Englewood and another in Boulder.) You can usually get 10-20% off the list price and if you join their 'frequent shoppers' club (it's free) you can get additional savings. 

GoCertify - A nice site that has information on just about every technical certification you can get -- who offers it, what you need to get it, where you can get training and where/how you can take the test.

BrainBench - Another certification site, but this one does their own online certification exams in a wide variety of technical subjects.

Dr. Dobb's Journal - An excellent all-around magazine for the professional programmer.  I have a subscription but a lot of their content is available online as well.

Online References

Online Computer Dictionary - Stuck trying to figure out an acronym or computer term? This is a good site to look it up. 

Google - One of the best search engines out there for the technically inclined. 

FAQs Online - Here's the one-stop shop for looking up Internet FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and RFCs (Requests For Comments). 

How to Provide Reliable NT Desktop Services by Avoiding NT Server - A white paper from Bell Labs documenting exactly how one department replaced all of their NT servers with UNIX. This has some excellent tips for internetworking UNIX and Windows.

Just for Fun

Ubersoft - A funny comic strip about a mythical software/OS vendor located somewhere in the Pacific Northwest....

User Friendly - Yet another comic strip that looks at the funny side of computing.

Computer Stupidities - This site collects actual dialogues between real users and real tech support folk. The range of misunderstandings and confusion is frequently hilarious.
 

Peter's Evil Overlord List - Thinking about a career as an Evil Overlord? Think you have what it takes to be the next Darth Vader? Check out this site for a collection of SuperVillain Do's and Don'ts including 'My ventilation shafts will be too small to crawl through'.

The Voice Actor Page - Want to know who does the voice of Larry 3000 on Time Squad?  Find the answer to this and many more questions about the men and women who do the talking for your favorite cartoon characters.  Search alphbetically by show title or actor name.  (By the way, Larry is voiced by none other than Mark Hamill.) 


Villian Supplies - Planning an evil scheme to take over the world, but need parts for your death ray?  This hilarious site has entries for everything from henchman to hidden volcano lairs.

Stupid Plot Tricks - Expanding on the Evil Overlord lists, this contains lists of rules for henchman, good guys/gals, bad guys/gals and even sidekicks.  Very funny read.

Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics - This site examines many popular movies to see if the action is in line with real physical laws.  An interesting, entertaining and even educational read.

 

Notes

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are those of the author and are not necessarily those of his employer, Westwood Technical College or its affilliates. This material is intended to supplement the class lectures and text and is not required to complete the course.

You can e-mail me here .