Pairing Prolog and the Web in a Normalization and Denormalization Tool

Abstract—The concept of database normalization emerges as very important since the need of redundant-free storages. Its hard understanding by students requires a flexible learning environment and an intelligent behavior by the machine. Our tool NORMALDB integrates both of them in a PHP and Prolog implemented platform providing a complex architecture internally and user friendly interface. Students will effectively learn by working with their own defined examples and at the same time can consult the theory behind each normalization step. On the other side, database teachers can track the tool usage of their students, by getting the information of their actions. This paper provides a detailed description of NORMALDB pointing out the communication between HTML pages and Prolog predicates and spread the challenges faced during the application deployment. Instead of normalization, our tool is the first in the series to support the teaching of denormalization procedure. Keywords-E-learning systems; database normalization and denormalization; logic programming; prolog server; web programming; I