Christopher J. Date
Christopher J. Date | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 18, 1941 United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, educator, researcher, consultant |
| Known for | Relational database theory, authoring An Introduction to Database Systems |
| Notable work | An Introduction to Database Systems, Databases, Types, and the Relational Model (The Third Manifesto) |
Christopher John Date (born 18 January 1941) is a British independent writer, educator, researcher, and consultant with expertise in relational database theory.
Biography
Chris Date was a student at Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe from 1951 until 1958 and obtained a BA degree in Mathematics from Cambridge University in 1962. His professional journey started as a mathematical programmer at Leo Computers Ltd in London, where he soon transitioned into roles focused on education and training. In 1966, he earned a master's degree from Cambridge and the following year joined IBM Hursley (UK) as an instructor in computer programming. Between 1969 and 1974, he held the position of principal instructor within IBM’s European education division.
During his tenure at IBM, Date played a role in the technical design and planning of IBM’s products SQL/DS and DB2. He was also engaged with Edgar F. Codd's relational model for database management systems. After departing IBM in 1983, he has dedicated himself to authoring numerous works centered on the relational model, frequently partnering with Hugh Darwen.
By 2007, his textbook An Introduction to Database Systems, which reached its eighth edition, had sold more than 700,000 copies globally (excluding translations) and is widely adopted by hundreds of academic institutions worldwide.
Date has authored several other significant contributions to the field of data management, including Databases, Types, and the Relational Model, often referred to as The Third Manifesto (currently in its third edition). This publication outlines a prospective path for the advancement of DBMS technology.
Works
Chris Date’s notable publications on relational database theory and application include:
- A series of volumes titled Relational Database Writings
- A Guide to the SQL Standard, 4th ed. (1997)
- What Not How: The Business Rules Approach to Application Development (2000)
- The Database Relational Model: A Retrospective Review and Analysis (2001)
- Temporal Data & the Relational Model (2003)
- An Introduction to Database Systems (2004)
- Database in Depth: Relational Theory for Practitioners (2005)
- Databases, Types, and the Relational Model, The Third Manifesto (co-authored with Hugh Darwen, 2007)
- SQL and Relational Theory, 2nd Edition: How to Write Accurate SQL Code (2011)
More recently, he has worked alongside Fabian Pascal producing articles featured at Database Debunkings.