Database Internals - Where to Begin? [closed]

Answer 1

Make sure that whatever you get covers relational algebra and relational calculus. No point delving into database internals if you don't have the basic theoretical background. Past that, any college style databases textbook will probably suffice.

Answer 2

In depth information about internals is database specific, here's a source on SQL Server 2008: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft%C2%AE-SQL-Server%C2%AE-2008-Internals/dp/0735626243

Answer 3

Here's an interesting read about SQLOS, which drives Microsoft SQL Server 2005+.

Answer 4

The SQLite source is very approachable to learn about database implementations.

PostgreSQL is a very well written piece of software, with higher complexity than SQLite.

Answer 5

A colleague and I got a great deal of information out of Database in Depth: Relational Theory for Practitioners Very low level stuff but it sounds like that is the sort of thing you are looking for.

Answer 6

Take a look at Database Systems: The Complete Book by by Hector Garcia-Molina, Jeffrey D. Ullman, Jennifer D. Widom. It is specifically about the internals of the DBMS.

The answer by SquareCog also contains sensible suggestions; I've not looked at the two books mentioned (though the Stonebreaker "Architecture" book is only 136 pages according to Amazon, which seems a tad lightweight).