History of Databases

Summary

This video script traces the evolution of databases, from early Sumerian tablets to modern computer databases. It discusses the challenges faced with early flat-file models, which were inefficient for large datasets, and how innovations like the hierarchical model and the relational database model, proposed by Ted Codd, revolutionized data organization. The script highlights key developments such as IBM’s IMS, the creation of Oracle by Larry Ellison, and the eventual success of relational databases, which became the standard for data management. Today, databases are integral to various fields, making data accessible and organized in the digital age.

Takeaways

• 😀 Databases have been used to organize information long before the computer age, with examples like Sumerian tablets and ship manifests.
• 😀 Early computer databases followed a flat file model, which required sequential searches and was slow for large volumes of records.
• 😀 The need for faster, more efficient, and scalable databases led to new models in the 1960s, including IBM's hierarchical model used by NASA.
• 😀 Charles Bachmann developed a more flexible network model, but it became too complicated to manage as the database grew.
• 😀 Ted Codd's relational database model, introduced in 1970, organized data into tables and avoided the need for complex pointers.
• 😀 Codd's relational database concept made data easier to access, merge, and modify without managing intricate pointers.
• 😀 IBM was initially slow to adopt Codd's relational model due to competition with their existing IMS product.
• 😀 Michael Stonebraker's team at UC Berkeley used Codd's idea to create the Ingres relational database, which became the foundation for commercial products.
• 😀 IBM eventually released System R in 1975, an experimental relational database using Structured Query Language (SQL).
• 😀 Larry Ellison, along with Bob Miner and Edie Oates, founded Oracle in 1977, creating the first commercially available relational database compatible with IBM's System R.
• 😀 Oracle's success in the database market, aided by early adoption of Codd's relational model, led to its growth as one of the largest software companies in the world, surpassing IBM's market share in the mini-computer space.

Q & A

What were the earliest uses of databases before the computer age?

Before the computer age, databases were used to organize information in forms like Sumerian tablets, medical prescriptions, ship manifests, card catalogs, and product inventories.

How did early computer databases differ from modern ones?

Early computer databases used a flat file model, which involved simple consecutive lists of records. This system required computers to search sequentially, making it slow to handle large volumes of data.

What were the limitations of the flat file model in early databases?

The flat file model required searching to begin at the start of the list and proceed sequentially, which was inefficient, particularly for large datasets.

How did the hierarchical model improve database management?

The hierarchical model, introduced by IBM's IMS in the 1960s, used a tree-like structure with parent nodes pointing to child nodes. This allowed for better organization and faster retrieval of information, as evidenced by its use by NASA to manage lunar lander drawings.

What was the problem with the hierarchical model as databases became more complex?

As databases grew more complex, managing the numerous pointers between nodes became difficult, making the hierarchical model less practical.

What is the relational database model, and who developed it?

The relational database model, developed by Ted Codd in 1970, organizes data into simple tables of related information, avoiding the need for pointers and making data more accessible and manageable.

Why was IBM slow to support the relational database model?

IBM was slow to support the relational database model because it had a profitable product, IMS, that competed with the new concept, and the company was hesitant to shift focus.

What significant contribution did Michael Stonebraker make to relational databases?

In 1973, Michael Stonebraker and his team at UC Berkeley used Ted Codd's relational model to create the Ingres database, which was made freely available and became the basis for several successful commercial products.

What role did Larry Ellison play in the development of relational databases?

Larry Ellison founded Oracle in 1977, developing the first commercially available relational database compatible with IBM's System R. Oracle quickly became profitable and helped propel the adoption of relational databases.

How did Oracle's success impact IBM and the database market?

Oracle's early adoption of the relational database model helped it gain traction in the mini-computer market, overtaking IBM's offerings and becoming one of the largest software companies in the world.

What were the key features of IBM's DB2, and why was it considered too late?

IBM's DB2, released in 1983, was a full-fledged commercial relational database for mainframes. However, by this time, Oracle had already gained significant market share, making it too late for IBM to dominate the mini-computer market.

How do relational databases impact everyday life in the digital age?

Relational databases are integral to organizing and accessing vast amounts of data in nearly every aspect of modern life, from communication and shopping to work and relaxation, demonstrating their widespread influence in the information age.