How to use database information from another application?

Question

I would like to know the procedures for developing a system using information from a third-party database.

Explaining: in my work we use a desktop system (SIABI) for managing processes such as book registration, loans, returns, etc. I would like to build an application with some features that do not exist in SIABI, but for that I would need to be able to access the database used by SIABI. How is this done? Would I contact the SIABI owner and ask him to do me the favor of giving me access to the database? And just out of curiosity, this is a frequent need for programmers?

For example, in SIABI there is no option to display a list of books that do not have a registered cover image, so I wanted to develop a separate application that complements SIABI, with features that SIABI does not have. The idea would be to continue using SIABI normally and use my application only when SIABI wasn’t enough.

I’m a complete beginner in programming, so don’t use too many technical terms.

Answer 1

@Reily, it goes a lot of the negotiation your client/boss had with the owner of this system. Because if there is no conversation before, the owner of SIABI will have no interest in helping to develop a web system that will probably disable his.

If this is not a problem, as @Krismorte commented, you can consult them regarding the availability of webservices.

If not, you could describe what information you need (student name, enrollment, book code, etc.) to prepare for them views and make a user available in the database without so many privileges (only to view these views).

Or if he is a good partner of yours, prepare a dump from the base to work locally.