IBM SQL/DS

SQL/DS (Structured Query Language/Data System), released in 1981, was IBM's first commercial relational-database management system. It implemented the SQL database-query language.

SQL/DS ran on the DOS/VSE and VM/CMS operating systems. A little later, IBM also introduced DB2, another SQL-based DBMS, this one for the MVS operating system. The two products have coexisted since then; however, SQL/DS was rebranded as "DB2 for VM and VSE" in the late 1990s.

References

I am Emil T. Cipolla; I was the lead planner at IBM Endicott NY in 1978 thru 1985, and prepared the marketing material for the first several releases of SQL / DS. From memory I can provide much of the history, and have most of the original IBM publicly available Announcement letters . How do I do proceed? Does any one care about the history?

Briefly, Ed (Ted) Codd at IBM San Jose Calif developed the relational model - System R, (as a prototype). One of the original test sites was Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. The language was Structured Query Language (aka SEQUEL) ; key developers included Chris Date and Don Chamberlain (and others -)

At the time, the dominate data base was IBM's IMS DB, developed and provided by IBM Santa Theresa it was a hierarchical data model,and the program had to know the detailed structure and relationship among the various records and sub records and fields - one 'navigated' thru the data base structure. The significant 'beauty' of the relational model is that one simply could associate and the records and retrieve the desired data fields simply by asking for them, and the database program knew where these were stored, and provided them (see other articles for Codd's rules and the relational model).

IBM Santa Theresa had little incentive to introduce a competitive data model to the high end main frame DB/DC MVS market segment. IBM Endicott, under the Lab Development manager Jack Cook and his outstanding programming development team, was receptive,and received the System R prototype code in late 1978, and adapted it to the IBM mid-range operating systems and hardware.

My previous assignment in IBM was as a system engineer whose customer set was mid range operating systems. My role was to use my customer experience to develop a business case, forecast, price point, and the marketing program material for target customer set (the mid range DOS/VS and VM/CMS operating systems.

Shall I continue with this ??