More help needed with a Uni project! (Posted by drew)

[surf patrol]

Posted by drew:

Hi,

Long time reader, first time poster. I'm a beginner surfer, and absolutely love it. I'm also a dad, work full time and am doing the last year of an IT degree.

I create databases and applications for a living.

I have to do a project this year that involves building an application and a database for the application. I've chosen to do a Surfing Tournament application that records, surfers, boards, judges, surf spots, winnings, sponsors etc.

It would be really good if you could tell me what such an application would have, what would it record and why? Any suggestions really.

On the off chance that any of you have come across this before, I've uploaded an Entity Relationship diagram.



Now just to make it clear, I don\'t work for a surfing company and I don't intend on profiting from it. The course specifies that the project have "real clients", with "real life problems" about the application, which is why I'm posting here. Once it's complete, I'll probably post it somewhere for free download.

Truth said, I don't expect many replies (I'd rather be out on the waves right now), but I'd appreciate anyone's help.

Thanks

Drew

[RJD]

Do you understand how a normal surf comp works? That'd be my first point to look at.

Record surfers, heats, waves & scores (best 3 scores = score for heat), worry about boards, sponsors etc later (irrelevant to the 'main' use of the app shirly).

Would you want real time scoring - across multiple judges etc that could make it nice n tricky:D ?

[miamisurfer]

Record surfers, heats, waves & scores (best 3 scores = score for heat), worry about boards, sponsors etc later (irrelevant to the 'main' use of the app shirly).

Would you want real time scoring - across multiple judges etc that could make it nice n tricky:D ?

It's top 2 scores=score for heat.

[RJD]

OK wise guy, mebe in America, land of the free, thats true but some of us live in the real world...

I'd have it as a system option anyhow I hate hardcoding stuff.

[dougirwin13]

Hi Drew,

Ah! A fellow DB professional!

I like the circular coaches reference and it's a structure I am quite fond of myself -- in the right place. You should be aware that some people do hate it so get a feel from your lecturers, etc before using it. In this case I'm not certain that it's exactly correct since some coaches aren't surfers (e.g., here in Oz surfers can go to the Australian Institute of Sport and get some excellent training and coaching from people who don't surf). Although you might specifically mean "surf coaches" in which case you'll be fine.

IMO You are going to need some entities that allow scoring methods to be defined (i.e., best 2 or 3 or x scores, seconds on the nose, etc) as well as recording ALL scores and flagging those used for determining overall heat, etc score.

That's all I can think of now. I'll look again later and see if anything else pops into my head.

Regards,
-doug

[Otter]

It's Greek to me...

[miamisurfer]

It's Greek to me...

Yep

[drew]

Thanks for the responses. I'll definitely revise the scoring now.

Doug, I'm so glad you came across the thread, what are the chances of that happening.

Is it ok if you're my "client". Technically it means that you get to make demands about how the app works and the db is structured, realistically it means that every now and again I pm you for thoughts and suggestions.

Drew

[dougirwin13]

Chances were pretty good on here - I pretty much check out every thread at least once.

PM away mate!

-doug

[drew]

I know but finding a sufer who happens to be a DB man?

Thanks, I'd better crack on.

[drowningbitbybit]

I know but finding a sufer who happens to be a DB man?

Almost....

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

:) I know but finding a sufer who happens to be a DB man?

Thanks, I'd better crack on.

Double Breakfast?

[Brian]

it's cool i can actually read your graphs! I am doing database design as a subject atm at uni.

can't say i can really help you, just wanted to flaunt my knowledge.

[dougirwin13]

Giggles to Brian and DBB

-doug