Today I came across what I predict will be the next big paradigm shift in the world of database design. This brilliant work I stumbled upon has been created by 4 students at the Koninklijk Atheneum of Sint-Niklaas, an innovative institute devoted to developing bleeding edge technologies. It is a completely new way of structuring MySQL database tables, the next epoch in design if you will.
Before we have a look at the code, let’s first consider the strong points of this new way of structuring database tables.
Benefits:
- It does away with all the confusing field type’s – just use INT’s for ID’s, and text for all the rest.
- Create only one table, which then holds all your data. This can be done by creating fields such as peopleWith1pc, peopleWith2pcs, peopleWith3pcs, ect. Brilliant no?
- To make it even more easy, it also does away with any sort of naming convention, after all, it’s only confusing!
Let’s have a look at a simple example where the new pattern is applied to a database in which survey results are stored. The table stores ‘answers’ of people who took the survey. The field names are in Dutch, but this should not prevent you from deducing the overall awesomeness.
Code:
`id` INT(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
`geslacht` text NOT NULL,
`studeren` text NOT NULL,
`geboorteJaar` INT(4) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
`gsm` text NOT NULL,
`prijsGsmToestel` text,
`herlaadmanier` text,
`provider` text,
`bedragPerMaan` text,
`smsPerDag` text,
`belPerDag` text,
`mp3` text NOT NULL,
`prijsMp3` text,
`gebruikMp3` text,
`pc` text NOT NULL,
`aantalPc1` text,
`aantalPc2` text,
`aantalPc3` text,
`aantalPc4` text,
`aantalPc5` text,
`aantalPc6` text,
`aantalPc7` text,
`aantalPc8` text,
`aantalPc9` text,
`aantalPc10` text,
`prijsPc` text,
`pcWerk` text,
`pcSchool` text,
`pcGamen` text,
`pcFilm` text,
`pcComm` text,
`pcSociaal` text,
`pcMuziek` text,
`pcAndere` text,
`pcGebruik` text,
`pcProvider` text,
`pc2000` text,
`pcXp` text,
`pcVista` text,
`pc7` text,
`pcLeo` text,
`pcSnowLeo` text,
`pcLinux` text,
`pcUnix` text,
`pcAndereBest` text,
`pda` text NOT NULL,
`prijsPda` text,
`pdaWerk` text,
`pdaSchool` text,
`pdaGamen` text,
`pdaAndere` text,
`pdaGebruik` text,
`pdaProvider` text,
`tv` text NOT NULL,
`tvGebruik` text,
`tvProvider` text,
`gamen` text NOT NULL,
`play1` text,
`play2` text,
`play3` text,
`xbox` text,
`xbox360` text,
`psp` text,
`pspGo` text,
`gameCube` text,
`wii` text,
`ds` text,
`gameAndere` text,
`consoleAantal` text,
`prijsGames` text,
`digiFoto` text,
`filmCamera` text,
`extHD` text,
`memStick` text,
`videoRec` text,
`dvdSpelRec` text,
`bluRay` text,
`dlToetsMuis` text,
`gameToeb` text,
`surround` text,
`printer` text,
`webcam` text,
`scanner` text,
`enqueteLeuk` text NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
)
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