[dba-Tech] Dearly Departed Databases (R.I.P.)

I forgot to mention that I did find these links:

http://wwwdb.web.cern.ch/wwwdb/aboutdbs/history/cern.html

and

http://wwwdb.web.cern.ch/wwwdb/aboutdbs/history/industry.html

but found them lacking, in particular with reference to Codysyl,
hierarchical and network database history. Most of the PC history is readily
available, at least in terms of birthdate (deathdate is another issue), but
I am particularly interested in the chronology of the designs named above,
their progenitors, their lifespans, their utility, and their demises. In
addition to the same for the PC products I named as well as any others that
achieved some popularity or at least reputations for excellence.

Arthur

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Arthur Fuller
Sent: July 16, 2005 7:28 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: [dba-Tech] Dearly Departed Databases (R.I.P.)

For some reason it occurred to me today to compile a list of databases I
once used (and perhaps more than once), once loved, and once even deployed
an app against. I tried a few googles on subjects approximating the subject
but came up with nothing relevant.

So I am proposing this tentative list -- not meant to be exhaustive, but
rather just OTTOMH... the ultimate goal being to compile a list of when the
products went off the market, when the companies folded or were sold, and so
on. For the Brits on the list, let`s call it Desert Island Databases. LOL.

dBASE II... became dBASE III, begat dBASE IV (still Ashton-Tate, but then
Borland bought the latter and tried dBASE V and it went nowhere, IIRC).

FoxBase begat FoxPro... was bought by MS and still exists, in radically
different cloth.

Revelation... lost track long ago... no idea what happened on this score.

Clarion... fabulous executables, dumb-ass language... no idea what happened
to them.

Paradox... is it still for sale... no idea.

Btrieve... the history of this baby eludes me... seems to have undergone a
number of evolutions and buyouts but I have no detail.

Knowledgeman... lost track more than a decade ago.

InfoStar (this is really for the geriatrics in this list!). No idea what
happened here.

(This list is obviously PC-centric, but I would love some contributions from
those aware of the histories of various mini, midi and mainframe databases.)

TIA to any and all who can contribute obituaries or documentation of
reincarnations.

Arthur
 

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