Assessment: Research and Data Modeling

Part A: Database Research

Research Question: Explore history of database systems and discuss the three most
important developments in database development history to date.

Solution:

The database development can be divided into three eras based on structure and data
model: navigational, relational/SQL and post-relational. (“Database”, n.d.)

1. Navigational DBMS:

Computerized database started during the 1960s, when use of computers became
more cost-effective option for private organizations. The two main early
navigational models of this decade were: a hierarchal model called IMS and a
network model called CODASYL that allowed data structures such as lists and
trees to be stored on disks. One database that proved commercially successful was
SABRE system that was utilized by IBM to enable American Airlines in managing
reservations data. (“Quick Base”, 2019)

2. Relational/SQL DBMS:

Between 1970 to 1972 E.F Codd defined the relational database model in a paper
which introduced the concepts of data model, data integrity, database schema,
entity or atomicity, that changed the way people thought about databases. (Ondrej,
2015)
Another database model called Entity-Relationship or ER was proposed by P. Chen
in 1976, that made it possible for designers to focus on data application, rather than
logical table structure.
IN 1980s the SQL became the standard query language. Relational Database
systems became commercially successful. DB2 became the flagship database
product for IBM. (“Quick Base”, 2019)

3. Post-relational DBMS:

Object databases developed in 1980s to conquer the bother of “Object-relational”

impedance match, which led to coning the term “Post-relational”. 1990s was the
time of purely object-oriented databases. (“Database”, n.d.)
The next generation of post-relational databases in the late 2000s became known
as NoSQL databases, introducing fast key-value stores and document-oriented
databases. Even though the Internet business encountered a decrease in the mid-
2000s, database applications keep on developing. (“Quick Base”, 2019)
References:

Database. (n.d.). History. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database

Quick Base. (2019). A Timeline of Database History. Retrieved from

https://www.quickbase.com/articles/timeline-of-database-history

PadaKuu. (2019). History of Database Systems. Retrieved from

http://www.padakuu.com/article/306-history-of-database-systems

Ondrej Kopal. (2015). History and Trends in the Development of Databases.

Retrieved from
http://www.web-integration.info/en/blog/history-and-trends-in-the-development-of-
databases/