Relational Database Systems

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Relational Database Systems (RDS) was founded in 1980 by Roger Sippl.

History

Roger Sippl and Laura King developed while working at Cromenco the "Cromenco Relational Information System" (CRIS).

The first product of RDS was an ISAM based indexed file system for Unix called "C-ISAM" alongside an report writer known as "ACE" and query system for C-ISAM known as "Informer".

In 1982 a relational database product initially called "Marathon" was released. The database was packed with the query system and report writer and a forms builder called "Perform" into a package called "Informix Relational Database Management System" and soon became known in the business as just Informix.

Their products initially ran on systems by vendor of S100 based business computer systems called Onyx Systems, they had a CP/M Z80 system called C8000 that could be outfitted with an optional S100 Z8000 board that ran a licensed version of Unix. The complete system with a hard drive cost less than 10,000 USD at the time which made it by far the cheapest Unix system available while fighting with minicomputers as far as speed was concerned, and as RDS was selling the Informix RDMS for considerably less than competitors like Oracle the combination of the hardware and software sold extremely well for the time even though the Informix system was not an SQL system like most of their competitors products.

Products

  • C-ISAM (1982)
  • ACE
  • INFORMIX-SQL (1985)

Personnel

1980:

  • Roger Sippl - Founder - CEO until the late 90s

1981:

  • Roy Harrington - ex-Cromenco
  • Laura King - Programmer - ex-Cromenco

1982:

  • Bill Hedge - ACE Programmer
  • Neil Blumenfield - Customer Support
  • Ginny Harrington