Re: postgreSQL and history of relational databases

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005, Mark Woodward wrote:

>> Hi there,
>>
>> while learning inkscape I did a sketch of picture describing
>> history of relational databases. It's available from
>> http://mira.sai.msu.su/~megera/pgsql/
>
> Is there a direct line from INGRES to Postgres? I was under the impression
> that Postgres is a "new" lineage started after INGRES sharing little or no
> code.

No code sharing, but only Stonebraker and his ideas about extensibility,
objects and lessons learned after Ingres, so it's named Postgres.


>
> The line from Ingres through RDb, Oracle, to Informix seems to indicate a
> lineage. Is there one? Is Oracle based, in some way, on INGRES?
>

No, line just crossing Oracle which bought Rdb/VMS. I'll adjust picture.


> IS there a relation between IBM System R and INGRES or is that just a
> placement issue?

No, I placed them close to underline their importance for relational databases.

>
> What is the raltionship between System R and SQL and DB2?

Sure. System R was a research project of IBM
SEQUEL is a language designed to work with data stored in System R. 
SEQUEL was renamed to SQL then because there was existed trademark.
IBM developes SQL/DS database which then became DB2.

>
> What does Agatha Christie have do do with anything? (Other than having
> Hecule investigate the death of SCO.)
>

"elephants can remember" - elephant here is a keyword

IIRC, it was this proposal for postgresql logo
http://www.pgsql.ru/db/mw/msg.html?mid=1238939

We used jaguar(leopard) before (famous postgresql empowered). 
I don't remember who was the first author of Elephant logo.


> While it is interesting, there seems to be implied connections by
> proximity, and I'm not sure of the explicit connections by line. You'll
> need some references.

I tried to separate INGRES family by color (color hue)
Bright red  - is for IBM family (probably wrong color)
Oracle is closer to IBM, because they both used SQL, 
while INGRES family use QUEL at the beginning.

Ilustra was bought by Informix, which was bought by IBM and 
incorporated into DB2, that's why they are close.

Illustra is a commercialized Postgres (1992), that's why there is line
connecting them.

Sybase (Sybase SQL Server) and MS SQL are close because until 1992 there was Sybase and license
agreement with Microsoft, which ported Sybase to Windows NT. In 1993
Microsoft rebranded Sybase and named MS SQL. Sybase in 1995 released v 11.0 and
renamed them to ASE to be distinct from MS SQL.


As I wrote, I'm not sure I got everything right, so any corrections are
welcome. If you improve my picture (get .svg and inkscape), then I'd
be glad to have it.  The reason I made this picture not just learning
inkscape (great program!), I tried to show the place of PostgreSQL 
between all major databases.

    Regards,        Oleg
_____________________________________________________________
Oleg Bartunov, sci.researcher, hostmaster of AstroNet,
Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow University (Russia)
Internet: oleg@sai.msu.su, http://www.sai.msu.su/~megera/
phone: +007(095)939-16-83, +007(095)939-23-83