Explored Functional Dependencies and BCNF Decomposition

📅 2023-04-20 — Session: Explored Functional Dependencies and BCNF Decomposition

🕒 15:10–17:30
🏷️ Labels: Python, BCNF, Functional Dependencies, Database Design, Pandas
📂 Project: Dev
⭐ Priority: MEDIUM

Session Goal

The session aimed to explore the concepts of functional dependencies and Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF) decomposition in database design, focusing on practical implementations using Python.

Key Activities

• Reviewed Python tools for detecting relationships in CSV files and constructing relational database schemas.
• Explored the concept of closure of attributes in functional dependencies and its application in online shopping and data warehousing.
• Analyzed customer orders using pandas to project functional dependencies.
• Implemented and explained the BCNF decomposition algorithm in Python, including a modified lossless version.
• Discussed the use of libraries like pydeequ, pdvega, and py_entitymatching for schema inference and normalization checks.
• Provided code examples for BCNF decomposition using SQL and pandas, and demonstrated the implementation of functions for checking prime attributes and computing attribute closures.

Achievements

• Successfully implemented BCNF decomposition algorithms in Python, ensuring data integrity through lossless decomposition.
• Clarified the mathematical proof of attribute closure and its implications in database normalization.
• Developed a comprehensive understanding of functional dependencies and their role in database design.

Pending Tasks

• Further exploration of 4NF verification and decomposition techniques to address multi-valued dependencies.
• Consideration of additional Python libraries for advanced database normalization and schema inference.