Understanding the Basics of Database Design Software

It's amazing that when we pose a question online either in a search tool or seek a solution through navigation in a web page, we are presented with answers to our "Query" instantaneously, voila! A database designer must consider the various ways a user will interact with his data before he or she can start building relationships. Organizing, storing and retrieving information is the primary function of a database and its applications in today's data driven world is seen virtually in every business operation. However, the functionality and resourcefulness of a database system is largely dependent upon the database designer and the entity relationship diagrams that have been utilized to develop, maintain and manipulate a database. Database modeling software should be used by the developer regardless of the data application platform that your designer has selected to warehouse your data.

Database Design

Database design is used to identify and describe the relationships between data objects or an "entity" of the database. ER diagrams for entity relationship models is blueprint for the data mapping. The designer takes into account how users may interact with the data and the types of queries that may be presented by a user. The relational model or "schema" is where you are presented with tables and view of the data requested and often dictates the user experience. If poorly designed, a user may choose a different path to get answers, diminishing the value of your database. What good is a complex database if no one wants to use the tool? Usually, a database designer uses relational database management system (RDBMS) software to create and manage such highly functional and user friendly database designs.

The database design software RDBMS is essentially the most important application a designer will use to create database systems. In industries or companies where a great deal of financial and medical records exist or logistical data and personal information is to be stored, it is important that the designer employs a data visualization model to help understand how the data may be used. With the use of relational data analysis tools to understand a large volume of data, say transaction records, prices of the goods, purchase details or the buyers' name, the designer can build relationships by categorizing the common characteristics found in the data set. This will then be plotted out in a conceptual representation in what is called er diagrams for entity relationship models. The diagrams created basically convey the conceptual and logical model of data that will be further referenced in the physical designing of the database system.

Database Management

SQL or Structured Query Language holds a key role in the creation and maintenance of relational database management systems or RDBMS for which it serves as its computer language for databases that use this language. Data modeling for an Oracle database utilizes a different query language and therefore different database designing software for an Oracle platform. Programmers and non technical users alike should be able to retrieve the desired data or information in a well designed database. Many data modeling tools have their own variations and combinations of such programming language in their database design products to make them more distinct in the technology market. Each database design professional or web developer might find one product to be more advantageous than the other and often it is a matter of previous experience and personal preference of each designer. Designers creating data modeling for SQL server platforms tend to lean towards the more advanced applications like Rational Rose, Power designer and ModelRight data modeling tools. Database designing software for Oracle requires a very robust relational database modeling software. It is likely that database programmers will consider the affordability and of course the effectiveness of such database designs packages.

ModelRight Inc. provides database modeling software for developing complex or simple data modelling for SQL server, MySQL, Oracle and PostgreSql environments. You will find our relational data analysis tools best of breed in comparable database design software available today.

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Programmers of Artificial Intelligent Speech Translation Software Are Completely Challenged

About a month ago, I took some old cassette tapes that I had, and some old videotapes that I had saved of myself giving speeches and tried to convert them into digitized writing. I had a silly, but rather clever idea; I would turn on my voice recognition software on my computer, put the headphones up against the TV, turn the TV on to an appropriate high volume, and play the video. The theory being that it would record everything that was said into the voice recognition software, and I can convert these into e-books, articles, and word files.

It didn't work.

Next, I took some old cassette tapes from a micro cassette recorder which I had often recorded during various local community speeches, and during college presentations where I gave talks. I turned on the micro cassette recorder, and tried the same thing. It didn't work very well either. When I looked at the word file that my speech recognition software created - it was pretty much garbage. Although, it was rather funny what it wrote.

Indeed, I had considered that perhaps my voice inflection was too great, or my voice was too animated. I had also considered that the tapes were too old, and/or it did record quite good enough to be translated into ones and zeros. Interestingly enough the other day, I read an article that made me rethink my previous strategy.

In fact, there was a great article surrounding this topic in the Wall Street Journal on May 4, 2011 by Nick Wingfield titled "Say What? High-Tech Messages Can Get Lost in Translation - Devices Make Communicating Easier or Incomprehensible; Phones Doesn't Swear" - the article is hilarious and yet, it's not all that funny as humans are relying on these things more and more you see?

Now then, it is obvious to me that programmers of artificially intelligent speech translation software have more work to do, and I can see they are completely challenged. There is often too much background noise, and each person speaks a slightly different dialect, accent, and it all depends on their language of origin, and the region where they came from as they developed their language.

You can imagine how difficult it is for folks to program speech recognition software and then translate it from one language to another. Obviously there are enough challenges just getting the recording to come out right with various accents, or poor audio systems. Then there is the issue with translation, and some phrases and words simply don't match up with other languages.

It is interesting that professional translators are able to take a speech from one language and translate it into another, adjusting the phrases in each language so that it makes sense. The United Nations has some interesting translation software, and it does work pretty well, but even it is not good enough, and therefore causes communication challenges, and hurt feelings every so often.

Perhaps this will be one of the biggest challenges of artificial intelligent speech translation programmers in the future. It is my guess that it will be. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it. If you come up with any new strategies, ideas, or new concepts along this line, please contact me.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.worldthinktank.net/ - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.

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Scenario Testing: The Path to a Great Piece of Software

Scenario testing is a method of testing which involves creating real life scenarios for detecting possible issues that a user may have with a piece of software. These type of tests need to describe a complex procedure but in the same time they need to be easy to evaluate. The most important feature of a scenario test is credibility; this means that it needs to create real life situations.

Although a hypothetical story, the act of creating a scenario is more or less similar to telling a good story: it needs to captivate the public and to make it believe that it might happen.

The main difference between test cases and scenario tests is that the former cover simple steps whereas the latter focuses on complex tests which have as main purpose the relationship between features. So each feature of the software needs to be tested individually before elaborating rich scenarios.

By developing scenarios tests, the quality assurance team gets an insight into the functionalities of the product, learns its mechanism and is capable of exposing failures and preventing future issues. The purpose of such tests is to see how the software will react when employed by an experience user: to acknowledge its benefits and to underline its weakness.

Such scenarios offer developers a real and complex feedback about their work, and the possibility to fix bugs and issues before the product comes out on the market. This increases the overall quality of the product and guarantees satisfied users.

In order to develop powerful scenario tests, testers need to determine different typologies of users and to define their main characteristics. It's highly important to know who your users are and what their main interests are. Failing to do so will lead to failing to deliver a quality product.

Also, testers should not neglect the challenges and failures the product had in the past. If this is the case, a thorough analysis of the previous versions will set a path for future testing and will reduce the time allocated to searching issues.

The difference between scenario testing and other types of tests, such as stress testing, domain testing, function testing, risk based testing, etc. is that it offers a global view of the functionalities of a product from the end user's perspective and underlines the complex relations between features. Scenario testing is suitable for complex functionalities, succeeding to point out bugs and issues that failed to appear through other approaches.

There's no such thing as a good scenario test or mandatory steps, there are tests which serve your purposes, and there are tests that fail to meet their goals. A thing is certain: scenario tests will be different for different products and need to be adapted to the requirements of each piece of software.

Not only that scenarios can improve the quality of the end product, but it can save time developing unsuitable features through its real case feedback. This can only mean a better product and resources invested wisely.

Scenario testing are a must for a company that wants to deliver a quality product and to gain an important position on the software market.

Brad Larson promotes quality standards in programming services. He works with http://www.sbp-romania.com/ in sustaining a high level for code writing.

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More Reasons For Software Development Outsourcing

In the modern era, the development of programs for IT industry is taking place at a very fast pace all around the world with the massive growth of computer uses at home and outside. This calls for huge investment in these related industries to cater to the increasing Software Development Outsourcing demand as per the need of all concerned.

The world wide progress of Information Technology at a fantastic rate has propelled the corresponding growth in the industry. Additionally, the input of most modern computer technology has further augmented the growth. Naturally, to sustain the momentum of ontogeny in this category, it is extremely important to meet the ever changing demands of all those associated in such type of industries.

However, the progress of the industry in leaps and bounds also calls for more work and greater manpower. This is where the concept of outsourcing steps in. It also helps the company to save costs besides getting a good quality work. The cost saving definitely comes as an added benefit to the company.

With even the computer biggies in the market like Oracle and Microsoft, have planned to expand their workforce in remote countries and get the job done at lower cost. The concept is extremely unique and is fast gaining popularity as it saves on both time and budget while adding to the offshore firm dealing with the projects.

This however calls for the firm to be extremely well equipped in terms of trained professionals, tools, adequate set up and also acquaintance with advanced technology. Another important aspect that also plays an important role is the presentation and packaging. An attractive package is also extremely important.

The other aspects that are generally kept in mind while working on these projects are the business requirements and also the factor that the project thus developed must also be changeable with the future demands and needs of the company. All these parameters must be kept in mind while working on such projects while at the same time ensuring quality.

It is extremely important that the resultant software is absolutely cost effective to the concerned company as that is the major reason why the work was given in the first place. It has been seen that it is possible to save as much as 50%-60% when the projects are handed over to an off-shore firm.

However, it may also mean not only developing the new projects as per the requirements, but also working and making changes on the old and existing ones. The ways to developing the new product, designing it and constructing an application. There are certain things that are to be kept in mind while working on such off shore projects.

The customer's benefit plays a crucial role along with the time cycle reduction and of course flexibility of the application. Knowledge, quality and the use of technology determines the success of the end project thus developed. Listening to your needs also plays an important part as the Software Development Outsourcing must serve your purpose for which you are building on it.

As software development outsourcing is hot topic right now, I would also recommend you to read this article about offshore application development.

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Importance of Training in the Software Industry

Computer training is well thought-out to be one of the significant skills for almost everyone. Whether you are a student, a novice worker, are on a senior marketing team, or you are a recent retiree, computer skill is a must. It has conquered almost every aspect of our modern lives, and thus it has become a necessity to be able to use and understand the computer.

To help the apprentice and long term computer users to stay updated about the constantly changing technology there are varieties of methods to learn computer that are available online or in regular classroom study. Whatever method used, training should start in introducing the hardware. The physical component of computer usually consists of the input devices, processor, output devices, storage, communication devices, surge protectors and other accessory devices.

On the other hand, software training starts with distinguishing the differences between the system software and application software. In it you will learn how to identify the various methods to acquire software and know the differences of freeware, open - source software and shareware. It is also important that you briefly know how to describe various task oriented software such as word processing, electronic spread sheet, database management, graphics and communication.

Describing the functions of operating systems will be also covered which allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring data between memory and disks or rendering output onto a display device. The training will also emphasize the advantages of graphical operating system, the more you know about operating system the better your computer will serves you. You will also know how to differentiate among different versions of Microsoft Windows and how to use it. It will also explain the needs for network operating system and determine the diversity among the multiprocessing, multiprogramming and time sharing.

Aside from learning things about computer as an electronic tool for informational age, knowing the security and privacy of computer and internet is also included. You will be able to learn aspects of securing corporate data, including software and data security, the recovery plans and security legislation. Eventually you will be able to decipher in general terms on how viruses work, the damages they can cause and procedures used to prevent this damage.

In the long run you will also learn to distinguish the kinds of software that are available for small and large businesses as well as the ethical issues associated with this software. You will learn all about principle of memory management and discover the utility software which helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer.

Training will also help you understand what is needed to get on the internet. It will help you describe generally what internet provider does and the rudimentary functions of a browser. It will help on attaining ease on surfing the internet and identify other non-web services.

In a global technology and a world of constant and fast-tracking change, everyone must create a society that knows how to continually learn with dispositions and habits of the heart to do so. Anyone today who waits to be taught runs the risk of being left behind by those who know how to learn on their own and with associates. Fortunately, the Web provides aplenty of resources for learning beyond the dreaming of the richest person in the past.

There are many things about web development, java, open source training and many software trainings have not been taught and explored. However, there is a website that gives personalized, relevant, and friendly training wherein you will uncover and learn all the software development process. Visit java training to find out more.

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Agile Project Management for Software Development - Why You Should Use It

What is Agile and How does it work?

Agile is an iterative process where a project is broken into pieces called "sprints" and each sprint is tackled in a discrete period of time - usually one to three weeks.

The advantage to the customer (the project owner) is that after each sprint is completed, there is a full review of the work that has been done to date. This allows the project owner to get a hands on look at the software mid-project. This is invaluable because it gives the customer a chance to actually see early stages of the software in action and this always leads to useful feedback and changes to scope.

Once the software review is done, all requirements are re-prioritized for the next sprint. Once the sprint has started, there is no interaction with the developers until the end of the sprint at which point the review and re-prioritization happens again, and again, until the project is complete.

How does Agile help with the scope of my software project?

The reality is that most customers know most of what they want, but it is almost impossible to think through every requirement for the "scope" of a software project beforehand. Using traditional methods of software development, you would create a scope document and the software developers would go away and complete the project based on the document, handing the customer a completed project at the end. The result is a less than 100% happy customer because it is impossible to think it all through. The customer asked for X, but really did not need 20% of what he asked for, but he actually did need another 20% that he did not know he needed!

Using Agile you get much closer to the "true scope" of your project.

Faster to Get Going

Another benefit of the Agile approach is that you do not need to know every last detail of what you want in order to get a quote and get going. A bullet point summary is all that is needed to size a project (give you a price plus budget). Once you are inside the project, it is dynamic - if you decide you want a feature, you may have to give up another, less critical feature, in order to complete the project on time and on budget.

Typically big mid-project requests are put on a backlog for v2 of the software.

We highly recommend the Agile approach to software development.

James Mackintosh is President of Smartlaunch a custom web-based application development company based in Toronto, Canada. Smartlaunch uses the Agile methodology in their software development for customers based in North America and Europe.

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Software Testing and Quality Assurance

Software testing can be defined as the process in which the tester aims at checking the software for errors and also, verifying that the functional requirements of a software are met. The system is examined under controlled conditions. The basic orientation is detection of faults within the system.

In this process, a program or an application is executed with the intentions of improving its quality. One strives to find the bugs within the software. As software industry has now grown in both size and complexity, so has its wide area of applications. We see soft wares in banking industry, in gaming industry, in management applications etc. Each has its own target customers and users. Before any software is launched, one must attempt to make an assessment as to its audience, customers, etc. The process of testing aims to aid in this regard.

Verification and Validation

Verification is a thwarting mechanism which helps in detection of all the possible weak points within a software before the process of testing actually begins.

Validation takes place after verification and this is where the concrete testing begins. One aims at finding the defects present in the functional requirements or the software's specifications.

Software Quality

The quality of any software can be determined by the following yardsticks:

- It must be free of bugs
- It must be delivered on the due date
- It must be complete within the budget initially allotted
- It must meet all the requirements and expectations of the client

Software quality assurance

Software Quality Assurance or SQA, as it is popularly known, is a method by which one aims at monitoring the whole process of software engineering and take measures at appropriate durations for ensuring that the quality of the software is not compromised with. This is approached by use of audits of quality management system by which the system was initially built. A few examples of the quality standards are CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) or ISO 9000.

SQA covers the whole process of development of any software and includes the design, coding, control of the code, reviews of the code, managing the configurations and the release of the final product. It is basically a method to control the processes of software development.

Advantages of SQA
- Improved customer satisfaction
- Reduced cost of development
- Reduced cost of maintenance
- Methodology of SQA
- Validation testing
- Data comparison
- Usability testing

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