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Questions tagged [database]

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3 votes
0 answers
149 views

Hierarchical/navigational database engine available on RSX-11M

Around 1988-1990 I worked for a company that was using an old RSX-11M system to host an ERP application. The application used a third-party database product of which I am trying to recall the name. ...
Anthony X's user avatar
  • 441
3 votes
1 answer
209 views

Did any big-iron systems implement offloaded database IO tasks?

I think I might have a false-memory, but I remember reading about some big iron system (1970s to the 1980s, I suppose) that set database benchmark records because it delegated bulk OLTP DML and ...
Dai's user avatar
  • 823
0 votes
0 answers
117 views

Was HP's IMAGE database available on the 2100/2000 line?

I'm reading about the history of the HP 21xx series in this interview, and one thing has me confused. I never used these machines, so I can't be sure I have the context correct... On page 5 he's ...
Maury Markowitz's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
268 views

Row locking on RM/COBOL-85

Near 21-22 years ago I worked in a COBOL-based shop. This business had one LOB application written in RM/COBOL-85, and deployed it to multiple customers with different network types (Xenix with dumb ...
mHouses's user avatar
  • 163
8 votes
1 answer
428 views

Looking for an 8-bit microcomputer with a hardware-accelerated database

In some old video on YouTube a few years ago, I noticed a curious computer from the end of the 70s - early 80s. In the rack (half height), typical of minicomputers of those years, there was a 14" ...
Wheelmagister's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
93 views

DEC RdbStar information?

I'm putting together an article on TPC-C, and while chasing down leads its primary author mentioned the RdbStar project at DEC. As he described it, the manager of DEC's storage department (Jim Grey? ...
Maury Markowitz's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
952 views

What was special about "Vulcan" - the CP/M database program?

The Vulcan DBMS for CP/M micros was originally developed in 8080 assembly language by a contractor working for Jet Propulsion Lab, based on an earlier JPL mainframe program. This code went on to be ...
Brian H's user avatar
  • 60.9k
2 votes
1 answer
219 views

Where can I find the software for "DESIGN: a program to create data entry programs" by J. Michael Wuerth?

I have a copy of the book, DESIGN: a program to create data entry programs by J. Michael Wuerth. Does anyone know where I can obtain a copy of the accompanying software for the book?
Wes Robinson's user avatar
6 votes
8 answers
673 views

Were there any filesystems support tag based key-value pairs before the 90s?

Attribute–value pair is quite common in programming languages, databases, URL query-strings, and Email/HTTP headers, which could also be used to organize, classify and version files. Extended file ...
Schezuk's user avatar
  • 3,754
7 votes
1 answer
3k views

How do I find out the REAL title of a given video game?

The Wave Race game for Nintendo 64 is called "Wave Race 64 - Kawasaki Jet Ski" in a ROM set. On Wikipedia, which I've previously considered authoritative for titles of commercial products, ...
Canine's user avatar
  • 87
1 vote
0 answers
142 views

Record definitions with IBM COBOL and IMS

A common technology stack for line of business applications in the sixties and seventies was IBM COBOL with the IMS database. I'm curious about how the combination handled record definitions. COBOL ...
rwallace's user avatar
  • 63.1k
5 votes
1 answer
208 views

What was the first database to start compressing in situ?

The obvious way for a database to store data is with each record in a contiguous chunk, and each field having a fixed size and offset in the record. Joel Spolsky praises that way of doing things: ...
rwallace's user avatar
  • 63.1k
3 votes
2 answers
449 views

How did databases use the 8087?

A discussion on programs that used the 8087 mentions several categories I expected, and one I did not: Database programs (dBase IV, FoxBase, Paradox, Revelation) The more I think about it, the more ...
rwallace's user avatar
  • 63.1k