Foundation Db2 and Python

Work with Db2 to write SQL and access databases using optimized code for the fastest response. This book will give you complete documentation on DB2 via Python for the IBM_db module and provide a number of examples for the usage of each module API.

Begin by getting your free version of Db2 for Linux and Windows. While the book concentrates more on the Linux version of Db2, it also covers enough of the Windows version so that you're comfortable with obtaining and installing Db2 on your version of Windows. Next, you'll see how to install the sample database that comes with Db2, and take some data from the web to design a database around it, including tables and indexes.

For Db2 to be really useful you need to use strong SQL expressions. This book provides specific examples of how to avoid using poor ones that can cause extra processing time for the query. Lastly, you'll look at each API in the ibm_db and ibm_db_dbi module. This module is not sponsored by IBM and must be installed separately from the Db2 database.

After reading Foundation Db2 and Python you'll be able to install Db2 on Windows or Linux, and perform backups and restore data.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

* Obtain and install Db2 properly on Linux and Windows
* Create databases and load them on Db2
* Work with ibm_db and ibm_db_dbi API modules for Python
* Write SQL for Db2
* Review the future of the ibm_db Python module

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

Python programmers and DB2 administrators interested in building application with Python and DB2 W. David Ashley is a technical writer for SkillSoft where he specializes in open source, particularly Linux. As a member of the Linux Fedora documentation team he recently led the Libvert project documentation, and wrote the Python programs included with it. He has developed in 20 different programming languages during his 30 years as a software developer and IT consultant, including more than 18 years at IBM and 12 years with American Airlines. Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter Goal: An introduction to Db2 for Linux and Windows.

No. of Pages: 10

Sub-Topics:

Glossary of terms

Introduction to the Db2

Obtaining the install files for Db2

What you need as far as your hardware and OS for your Db2 machine

How to organize your file system to support Db2 data bases

Chapter 2: Installing Db2

Chapter Goal: Describes how to install Db2 on Linux and Windows

No. of Pages: 50

Sub-Topics:

Preparing your server for Db2

Installing Db2 on Linux

Installing Db2 on Windows

Installing the ibm_db module

Test the connection between Python/ibm_db and Db2

Chapter 3: Db2 ManagementChapter Goal: Create Python scripts to access Db2

No. of Pages: 40

Sub-Topics:

Layout of the typical Python script to access Db2

The ibm_db module

The order of processing in almost all Python scripts accessing Db2

Using exceptions in your Python scripts

Chapter 4: Installing the Db2 sample database and a custom database

Chapter Goal: Learn how to design and create your own databases

No. of Pages: 35

Sub-Topics:

Install the Db2 sample database

Write some simple Python scripts to access the sample data base

Design and install the Orbital Launch data base

Write some simple Python scripts to assess the Orbital Launch data base

Chapter 5: Creating Utility Modules for Accessing Db2

Chapter Goal: Creating modules that access ibm_db

No. of Pages: 40

Sub-Topics:

Create you first utility module

Use functions or classes in your module, or both?

Organizing your module(s)

Accessing your module

Chapter 6: Documenting the ibm_db Module

Chapter Goal: Documenting the ibm_db Module API

No. of Pages: 40

Sub-Topics:

Document each API in the ibm_db module

Document all input and outputs to each API

Provide multiple examples for each API

Chapter 7: Writing Good SQL for Db2 (this might cover multiple chapters)Chapter Goal: Creating optimized SQL for Db2

No. of Pages: 60

Sub-Topics:

Minimize the passes through the data

Code for concurrency

Locking and isolation levels

How to avoid writing code

The importance of indexes

Optimization

Sequential vs. random data access

Types of joins

Chapter 8: Where is the ibm_db Module Going

Chapter Goal: Explain why IBM does not directly support the ibm_db module

No. of Pages: 25

Sub-Topics:

Why ibm_db is open source?

How does ibm_db use underlying systems?

Why is this module not included with Db2?

Some future items to be added to ibm_db module

Chapter 9: Db2 provided utilitiesChapter Goal: Describe some of the utilities that come with Db2 and possibly some extra cost utilities

No. of Pages: 50

Subtopics:

What utilities are covered has yet to be identified

Chapter 10: BLOB data, what is it and how do you use it

Chapter Goals: Describe what a blob is and how to use one

No. of Pages: 50

Subtopics:

Describe the different kinds of BLOBs

Accessing BLOB data in Python

What kinds of data can be stored in a BLOB

Utilizing BLOBs to store Python data, how to keep data and metadata together in Db2