What are some good references for learning relational database design QUICKLY? [closed]

Question

So say you already know how to do basic things with databases e.g. create them...:) and you understand basic concepts like views and joins..and basic SQL syntax....but you just don't feel comfortable that your solutions follow the "best practices" or are even "correct".

Where could you read up something relatively rigorous but straight to the point for someone trying to build a database driven website? something that would say when/why joins are bad, when to cache, what kinds of queries are expensive, maybe have some exercises and hints/ solutions? something with a little bit of math as well?

Something like an e-book or some lecture notes may be the most appropriate but any suggestions are welcome!

Answer 1

1. Work with people more experienced than you
2. Make lots of mistakes... and make sure you learn from them!
3. Start reading books on relational databases
4. Learn the internal details of your specific dbms (the optimizer in particular)

The only real shortcut is #1.

Once you begin to feel confident in modelling, start utilizing the knowledge of the internals of your specific dbms. It can be a big payoff to tilt minor design choices in ways that are benificial for your particular dbms. (Fixed length records and clustering comes to mind in MySQL).

You also need a thick and boring book on the fundamentals of relational database design to impress your friends and fellow coworkers. The best book for this purpose I've found is C.J Date's An Introduction to Database Systems. Apart from being just as thick and boring as its author, it unfortunately has some of the best material on the topic of normalization and relational theory.

I second @Cade Roux advice about Celko's books, and especially recommend "SQL for Smarties" or "Data and Databases".