History of Databases

Computer History Museum

5 Sept 201805:30

Summary

TLDRThe script narrates the evolution of databases from ancient Sumerian tablets to modern computer systems. It highlights Ted Codd's invention of the relational database model in 1970, which revolutionized data organization through interconnected tables. Despite initial resistance from IBM, who favored their hierarchical IMS system, the relational model gained traction with the creation of INGRES at UC Berkeley and the launch of Oracle by Larry Ellison in 1979. Oracle's adaptability across various computer systems and its early adoption of Codd's concept led to its dominance in the software industry, shaping how we interact with data today.

Takeaways

📚 Databases have been used since ancient times, such as the Sumerian tablet for medical prescriptions.
💾 Early computer databases followed a flat file model, which was slow and inefficient for large data sets.
🌳 IBM's IMS used a hierarchical model in the mid-1960s, which was tree-like but had limitations in scalability.
🔄 Charles Bachmann developed a network model allowing multiple parents for child nodes, but it became difficult to manage as databases grew.
📊 Ted Codd proposed the relational database model in 1970, simplifying data access and manipulation through tables and matching fields.
📝 Codd and JDate advocated for the relational model, despite competition from IBM's IMS, which was more profitable at the time.
🏫 UC Berkeley created the Ingress relational database in 1973, making it freely available and influencing commercial products.
🔍 IBM's System R, released in 1975, introduced a structured query language for data search and modification.
💼 Larry Ellison founded a software company in 1977, which developed Oracle, the first commercially available relational database compatible with IBM's System R.
🚀 Oracle's adaptability across various computer systems by 1983 contributed to its rapid profitability and market dominance.
📈 Despite IBM's late entry with DB2, Oracle had already established itself as a major player, embracing Codd's relational database concept.

Q & A

What role did the Sumerian tablet play in early data organization?
-The Sumerian tablet was used as an index of medical prescriptions, ship manifests, card catalogs, and product inventories, serving as one of the earliest forms of database organization.
How did early computer databases operate, and what was their main limitation?
-Early computer databases operated using a flat file model, which was a simple consecutive list of records. The main limitation was that searches had to start at the beginning of the list and proceed sequentially, making it slow and inefficient for large volumes of records.
What was the hierarchical model used by IBM in the 1960s, and where was it successfully applied?
-The hierarchical model used by IBM organized data in a tree-like structure with parent nodes pointing to child nodes. It was successfully applied by NASA to manage drawings for the lunar lander.
What challenge arose with the network model developed by Charles Bachmann at GE?
-The network model allowed child nodes to have multiple parents, but as the database became more complex, it became increasingly difficult to manage all the pointers.
How did Ted Codd's relational database model differ from earlier models?
-Ted Codd's relational database model differed by organizing data into simple tables of related information, without requiring pointers. Tables were connected by matching data fields, making it easier to access, merge, and change data.
Why was IBM slow to support Ted Codd's relational database model despite its advantages?
-IBM was slow to support Ted Codd's relational database model because it competed with their existing and profitable hierarchical model used in the IMS (Information Management System).
What significant contribution did Michael Stonebraker's team at UC Berkeley make to relational databases?
-Michael Stonebraker's team at UC Berkeley created the Ingres relational database based on Ted Codd's ideas, making it freely available for a modest fee. This contributed to the development of successful commercial products.
What role did Larry Ellison play in the commercial development of relational databases?
-Larry Ellison, along with Bob Miner and Ed Oates, founded a software company in 1977 to develop and sell the first commercially available relational database, Oracle, which was compatible with IBM's System R. Oracle quickly became profitable and established itself as a major player in the industry.
How did the release of IBM's DB2 in 1983 impact the relational database market?
-IBM's release of DB2 in 1983 came too late to dominate the mini-computer market, as Oracle had already established a strong presence by selling to IBM's customers. As a result, Oracle continued to grow, while IBM's DB2 faced stiff competition.
Why have relational databases become a fundamental part of how data is organized in the modern world?
-Relational databases became fundamental due to their flexibility, efficiency, and ease of use in organizing large volumes of data. They allowed for easy access, merging, and modification of data, which is essential in our information-driven society where data is gathered, organized, and made accessible in nearly every aspect of life.

Outlines

00:00

💻 The Evolution of Databases

This paragraph explores the history and evolution of databases, starting from ancient Sumerian tablets to modern computer databases. It highlights the transition from manually managed information systems, like card catalogs and ship manifests, to early computerized flat file models, which were slow and inefficient. The need for faster, more reliable, and efficient databases led to the development of new models, such as IBM's hierarchical model in the 1960s and GE's network model. However, these models were complex and difficult to manage, leading to the emergence of Ted Codd's revolutionary relational database model, which organized data into simple, easily manageable tables without the need for pointers.

05:01

📚 The Rise of Relational Databases

This paragraph details the rise of the relational database model, initially proposed by Ted Codd in 1970. Codd's model simplified data management by using tables connected by matching data fields, which eliminated the need for complex pointer systems. Despite its advantages, Codd's relational model faced resistance from IBM, which was heavily invested in its hierarchical IMS system. However, advocates like C.J. Date and Michael Stonebraker recognized the potential of relational databases. Stonebraker's team at UC Berkeley developed Ingres, an early relational database system, which laid the groundwork for future commercial products.

🚀 The Commercialization of Relational Databases

This paragraph chronicles the commercialization of relational databases, beginning with IBM's experimental System R in 1975, which introduced the Structured Query Language (SQL). However, it was Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates who truly revolutionized the industry by founding Oracle in 1977. Oracle's relational database system, compatible with IBM's System R, became commercially available in 1979. Oracle's ability to run on various computer systems, including IBM PCs and mainframes, quickly made it a success. By the time IBM released its commercial relational database, DB2, in 1983, Oracle had already established itself as a leader in the market, helping to solidify the dominance of relational databases in organizing computer data.

🌐 Databases in the Information Age

The final paragraph emphasizes the omnipresence of databases in the modern world. From communication to shopping, data is continuously gathered, organized, and made accessible through databases. In the current information age, databases are integral to almost every aspect of our daily lives.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Database

A database is a structured collection of data, often organized in a way that allows for easy retrieval, management, and updating. In the context of the video, databases are central to the theme of information management, highlighting their evolution from early Sumerian tablets to modern computerized systems. The script mentions various types of databases, emphasizing their importance in organizing and automating information.

💡Flat File Model

The flat file model refers to an early method of organizing data in a simple, linear fashion, where each record is stored sequentially. The video describes this model as requiring computers to start every search at the beginning of the list, which was inefficient for managing large volumes of data. This model is contrasted with later, more advanced database models.

💡Hierarchical Model

The hierarchical model is a database structure where data is organized in a tree-like fashion, with parent nodes pointing to child nodes. The video explains that IBM's IMS used this model, which was successfully employed by NASA for managing lunar lander drawings. However, it was limited in flexibility compared to later models.

💡Network Model

The network model is a more flexible database structure that allows child nodes to have multiple parents. Developed by Charles Bachmann, it addressed some of the limitations of the hierarchical model. The video notes that as databases became more complex, managing the numerous pointers in this model became challenging.

💡Relational Database Model

The relational database model, proposed by Ted Codd, organizes data into simple tables with related information connected by matching data fields, eliminating the need for pointers. This model is central to the video's narrative, as it revolutionized data access, merging, and modification, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

💡Structured Query Language (SQL)

SQL is a domain-specific language used for managing and manipulating relational databases. The video mentions that IBM's System R used SQL, developed by Don Chamberlin and Raymond Boyce, to search and modify data. SQL is a key component of relational databases, allowing users to perform complex queries and operations.

💡Ingress

Ingress was a relational database created by Michael Stonebraker's team at UC Berkeley, based on Codd's ideas. The video highlights that Ingress was made freely available and served as the basis for several successful commercial products. It represents an important step in the practical application of relational database technology.

💡System R

System R was an experimental relational database developed by IBM in 1975. The video describes it as a significant development in the adoption of relational databases, as it utilized SQL for data manipulation. System R's creation marked a shift towards more advanced database management systems.

💡Oracle

Oracle is a flagship product of the company started by Larry Ellison, which was one of the first commercially available relational databases compatible with IBM's System R. The video emphasizes Oracle's role in popularizing relational databases and becoming a major software company, illustrating the commercial success of adopting new technology.

💡IBM

IBM is a multinational technology company that played a pivotal role in the development of database technology. The video discusses IBM's initial reluctance to support the relational database model due to competition with their own IMS product. However, IBM later released System R and DB2, highlighting the company's significant contributions to database systems.

💡DB2

DB2 is a commercial relational database management system developed by IBM. The video notes that IBM released DB2 for mainframes in 1983, but by then, Oracle had already established a strong presence in the market. DB2's introduction, although late for IBM's dominance in the minicomputer market, still represents an important development in database technology.

Highlights

Lives are flooded with information due to computer databases, allowing seamless interaction with data.

Databases were used for organizing information even before the computer age, as evidenced by the Sumerian tablet.

Early computer databases followed a flat file model, which was slow and inefficient for large data volumes.

IBM's hierarchical model for IMS in the mid-1960s was a tree-like structure that was successfully used by NASA.

Charles Bachmann developed a more flexible network model for databases, allowing child nodes to have multiple parents.

Ted Codd proposed the relational database model in 1970, organizing data into simple, related tables without the need for pointers.

JDate and Ted Codd advocated for the relational database model through papers, lectures, and debates.

IBM was slow to support the relational database due to competition with its profitable IMS product.

Michael Stonebraker's team at UC Berkeley created the Ingress relational database in 1973, making it freely available.

Ingress served as the basis for several successful commercial products.

IBM's experimental relational database, System R, was released in 1975, featuring a structured query language.

Larry Ellison founded a software company in 1977 to develop and sell the first commercially available relational database, Oracle.

Oracle's first version shipped in 1979 and was rewritten by 1983 to run on various computer systems, including IBM PCs and mainframes.

IBM released DB2 in 1983, but it was too late to dominate the minicomputer market as Oracle was already selling to IBM's customers.

Oracle's early adoption of Ted Codd's relational database concept contributed to its rise as one of the world's largest software companies.

The success of Oracle and its use of relational databases have made this model a standard for organizing computer data.

Databases are integral to modern life, organizing and making data accessible in various aspects such as working, communicating, shopping, and relaxing.