ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Code.org CS Principles: Databases – Part 2 Using the Data Viewer
In this lesson, we explore how to interact with a database using a simple survey app. This app collects users’ favorite foods and stores their responses in a remote database, specifically in a table named “fave foods.” To see the data stored in this database, you can click the “View Data” button located above the app display. This action will open a new tab featuring the data viewer.
Upon opening the data viewer, you’ll be greeted with a list of tables within the database. Among these is the “fave foods” table, which was automatically generated the first time we used the createRecord function with that table name. While you can add new tables on this page, our focus will be on the “fave foods” table.
Within this table, you can observe how each food item submitted earlier appears as a separate row. The data viewer provides the capability to view and manually modify the data in any table. You can click “edit” next to a row to alter its contents, add or delete columns, or even introduce a new record.
Beneath the table, there’s a section called “debug view.” This area displays the JavaScript objects being created as you add elements to the table. Essentially, the table is a collection of JavaScript objects, where column names serve as properties of these objects, and the values represent the items in each row for that record.
When developing an app, you might need to track certain data while the app is running. For this purpose, you can use familiar concepts like variables or lists. However, if you need the data to persist after the app stops running or to be accessible by multiple users, you’ll employ permanent data storage blocks to send this data to a remote database.
In my first job after college, I worked at a renowned special effects company. I contributed to the special effects of a major film by helping create realistic animations. The team comprised talented artists, animators, and technical directors who faced challenges such as animating complex movements frame-by-frame. I proposed using physics and math to automate some of these processes, which significantly saved time. This experience highlighted the power of software to streamline workflows and enhance creativity.
By understanding how to effectively use databases and data viewers, you can enhance your app development skills and improve data management, making your applications more robust and user-friendly.
Open the survey app and use the “View Data” button to access the data viewer. Spend some time exploring the “fave foods” table. Try editing a row, adding a new column, and creating a new record. Reflect on how these actions affect the data structure and consider how you might use these features in your own projects.
Examine the “debug view” section beneath the table. Identify the JavaScript objects being created as you interact with the table. Write a short explanation of how these objects represent the data in the table, and discuss how understanding this relationship can aid in debugging and developing database-driven applications.
Develop a small app that collects user input and stores it in a remote database. Ensure that the data persists even after the app is closed and can be accessed by multiple users. Share your app with classmates and discuss the challenges you faced in implementing data persistence and how you overcame them.
Research a real-world application of databases in a field of your interest. Prepare a short presentation on how databases are used in that field, highlighting any innovative uses or challenges. Consider how the concepts learned in this lesson could be applied to improve or innovate within that field.
Design a creative project that involves collecting and managing data using a database. This could be a simple app, a website feature, or a data visualization tool. Present your project to the class, explaining how you used the data viewer and database concepts to manage and display the data effectively.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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We just created a simple survey app that asks users for their favorite food and stores the answers in a remote database, specifically in the “fave foods” table. To view the entries stored in the database, click the “View Data” button above the app display. When you click the button, it will open a new tab for the data viewer.
The first thing the data viewer shows you is a list of tables in the database, and there’s the “fave foods” table, which was automatically created the first time we used the createRecord function with that table name. New tables can be added on this page, but we’re going to dive into the “fave foods” table.
Here, we see how the three foods we submitted earlier each show up as a row in the “Fave Foods” table. The data viewer allows you to look at the data in any table and modify it manually if you like. You can click “edit” next to a row to change the contents. You can also add or delete columns if needed or add a whole new record.
Below the table is a section called “debug view,” where you can see the JavaScript objects being created as you add elements to the table. This makes it easy to see that at the heart of the table is just a list of JavaScript objects. You will notice that column names are properties of the object, and the values are the items in the row for that record.
When building an app, you may need to keep track of something while your app is running. For this, use concepts you’re familiar with, like variables or lists. If you want some data to be accessible after the app stops running or for multiple users, you’ll use permanent data storage blocks to send that data to a remote database.
In my first job out of college, I worked at a well-known special effects company. I contributed to the special effects for a major film, helping to create realistic animations. We had many talented artists, animators, and technical directors working on these projects. They faced challenges, such as animating complex movements frame-by-frame. I suggested using physics and math to automate some of these processes, which could save them significant time. This experience truly demonstrated the power of software to improve workflows and enhance creativity.
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This version maintains the core information while removing specific names and details that may not be necessary for understanding the content.
Database – A structured set of data held in a computer, especially one that is accessible in various ways. – The university’s library system uses a database to manage and retrieve information about books and journals.
Data – Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis, often used in computing to represent information. – The data collected from the sensors is analyzed to improve the efficiency of the software algorithm.
Viewer – A software application or tool that allows users to view and sometimes interact with digital content. – The 3D model viewer enabled students to explore the architectural design in detail.
Table – A set of data elements arranged in rows and columns, often used in databases and spreadsheets. – The students created a table in the database to store information about their coding projects.
JavaScript – A high-level programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within web browsers. – The web development course taught students how to use JavaScript to enhance user experience on websites.
Objects – Instances of classes in programming that can contain data and methods to manipulate that data. – In the object-oriented programming class, students learned how to create and manipulate objects in Python.
Variables – Storage locations identified by a memory address and a symbolic name, used to hold data that can be changed during program execution. – The professor explained how variables are used to store user input in a program.
Lists – Ordered collections of items in programming, which can be of different data types and are used to store multiple values. – The students used lists to manage the inventory of items in their e-commerce application project.
Storage – The retention of retrievable data on a computer or other electronic system. – Cloud storage solutions are becoming increasingly popular for backing up important data.
App – A software application, especially one designed for a mobile device or a specific task. – The team developed a mobile app to help students track their study schedules and assignments.
