CS432 teaches you the concepts underlying modern database systems. CS433 teaches you how to actually build a modern database system. CS432 has no programming assignments, while CS433 has four C++ programming projects.
Yes. However, we recommend that you take CS433 since you will learn a lot more about how databases are built by actually writing a large part of a database system.
No. The material covered in CS433 assumes knowledge at the level of CS432. However, you can (and we encourage you to) concurrently enroll for both CS432 and CS433.
There is a lot of project work that involves programming. Whether you find it time-consuming or not depends on your level of comfort with C++ programming. In the final course evaluation last fall, many students wrote that even though the course was a lot of work, they learned a lot of valuable material. Many people also received job offers based on their knowledge of material taught in CS432 and CS433.
Class attendance is crucial. Much of what we teach is not written on the transparencies or directly available in the book. We urge you to attend class and participate in the discussion of the different topics.