Edward Lu and Ras Bodik

EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley

Technical Report No. UCB/EECS-2013-68

May 15, 2013

http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2013/EECS-2013-68.pdf

Relational data has become so widespread that even end-users such as secretaries and teachers frequently interact with them. However, finding the right query to retrieve the necessary data from complex databases can be very difficult for end-users. Many of these users can be seen voicing their confusion on several Excel help forums, receiving little help and waiting days for responses from experts. In this paper, we present Quicksilver, a programming-by-demonstration solution that derives queries from user inputs. It is designed to be easy and intuitive for users who are not familiar with database theory. We present Quicksilver's interface designs and synthesis algorithms. We conclude with a user study designed to evaluate Quicksilver's performance.

Advisors: Ras Bodik

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BibTeX citation:

@mastersthesis{Lu:EECS-2013-68,
    Author= {Lu, Edward and Bodik, Ras},
    Editor= {Hartmann, Björn},
    Title= {Quicksilver: Automatic Synthesis of Relational Queries},
    School= {EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley},
    Year= {2013},
    Month= {May},
    Url= {http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2013/EECS-2013-68.html},
    Number= {UCB/EECS-2013-68},
    Abstract= {Relational data has become so widespread that even end-users such as secretaries and teachers frequently interact with them. However, finding the right query to retrieve the necessary data from complex databases can be very difficult for end-users. Many of these users can be seen voicing their confusion on several Excel help forums, receiving little help and waiting days for responses from experts. In this paper, we present Quicksilver, a programming-by-demonstration solution that derives queries from user inputs. It is designed to be easy and intuitive for users who are not familiar with database theory. We present Quicksilver's interface designs and synthesis algorithms. We conclude with a user study designed to evaluate Quicksilver's performance.},
}

EndNote citation:

%0 Thesis
%A Lu, Edward 
%A Bodik, Ras 
%E Hartmann, Björn 
%T Quicksilver: Automatic Synthesis of Relational Queries
%I EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley
%D 2013
%8 May 15
%@ UCB/EECS-2013-68
%U http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2013/EECS-2013-68.html
%F Lu:EECS-2013-68