PrimeBase
Encyclopedia
A number of database related products and projects go under the name of PrimeBase. Classic PrimeBase is a SQL
database server developed and maintained by PrimeBase Systems GmbH of Hamburg, Germany. The open source projects "PrimeBase XT Storage Engine for MySQL
" (PBXT) and "PrimeBase Media Streaming" engine (PBMS) are supported and funded by PrimeBase Technologies GmbH.
The bulk of the PrimeBase SQL Data Server (PBDS) users are in the print and pre-press industry. This is due to historical reasons and the fact that PBDS features such as efficient BLOB
handling and full-text search focus on the requirements of applications in this area. PBDS began life as P.INK SQL in 1990. It was originally developed for the Macintosh
by the company P.INK Software Engineering GmbH and Co, in Hamburg. At the time, it was the only SQL
server that ran on the Macintosh. In 1992 P.INK Software began porting the database to Unix
. In particular, the Sun
SPARC
workstation and the IBM
RS/6000
.
The database was used as the central component of the P.INK Press Publishing System, which was installed at a number of major newspapers in Germany
and worldwide. Following a number of management errors that saw the company grow too fast P.INK Software declared bankruptcy in 1995 when shareholders were unable to agree on the terms for refinancing the company.
A number of former employees managed to secure the rights to the P.INK SQL database and in 1996 they founded SNAP Innovation GmbH. Support and development of the database was continued under the name of PrimeBase. By the year 2001 SNAP had added related products to the PrimeBase SQL Data Server including the PrimeBase Replication Server and the PrimeBase Application Server. These products are now all owned and maintained by PrimeBase Systems GmbH.
In 2004, SNAP began development of PBXT, the transactional storage engine for MySQL. Drawing on experience gained in the development of the PrimeBase DBMS, SNAP also launched the "Scalable BLOB
Streaming Infrastructure for MySQL" project, under which PBMS and the S3 Daemon have been developed. More information is available on these products from the associated web-sites (see below). Both of these projects have now been put under the umbrella of the open source company PrimeBase Technologies.
SQL
SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
database server developed and maintained by PrimeBase Systems GmbH of Hamburg, Germany. The open source projects "PrimeBase XT Storage Engine for MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
" (PBXT) and "PrimeBase Media Streaming" engine (PBMS) are supported and funded by PrimeBase Technologies GmbH.
The bulk of the PrimeBase SQL Data Server (PBDS) users are in the print and pre-press industry. This is due to historical reasons and the fact that PBDS features such as efficient BLOB
Blob
- In biology :* Blob , sections of the visual cortex where groups of color-sensitive neurons assemble* Globster, an unidentified organic mass that washes up on the shoreline of an ocean or other body of water...
handling and full-text search focus on the requirements of applications in this area. PBDS began life as P.INK SQL in 1990. It was originally developed for the Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
by the company P.INK Software Engineering GmbH and Co, in Hamburg. At the time, it was the only SQL
SQL
SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
server that ran on the Macintosh. In 1992 P.INK Software began porting the database to Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
. In particular, the Sun
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
SPARC
SPARC
SPARC is a RISC instruction set architecture developed by Sun Microsystems and introduced in mid-1987....
workstation and the IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
RS/6000
RS/6000
RISC System/6000, or RS/6000 for short, is a family of RISC and UNIX based servers, workstations and supercomputers made by IBM in the 1990s. The RS/6000 family replaced the IBM RT computer platform in February 1990 and was the first computer line to see the use of IBM's POWER and PowerPC based...
.
The database was used as the central component of the P.INK Press Publishing System, which was installed at a number of major newspapers in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and worldwide. Following a number of management errors that saw the company grow too fast P.INK Software declared bankruptcy in 1995 when shareholders were unable to agree on the terms for refinancing the company.
A number of former employees managed to secure the rights to the P.INK SQL database and in 1996 they founded SNAP Innovation GmbH. Support and development of the database was continued under the name of PrimeBase. By the year 2001 SNAP had added related products to the PrimeBase SQL Data Server including the PrimeBase Replication Server and the PrimeBase Application Server. These products are now all owned and maintained by PrimeBase Systems GmbH.
In 2004, SNAP began development of PBXT, the transactional storage engine for MySQL. Drawing on experience gained in the development of the PrimeBase DBMS, SNAP also launched the "Scalable BLOB
Blob
- In biology :* Blob , sections of the visual cortex where groups of color-sensitive neurons assemble* Globster, an unidentified organic mass that washes up on the shoreline of an ocean or other body of water...
Streaming Infrastructure for MySQL" project, under which PBMS and the S3 Daemon have been developed. More information is available on these products from the associated web-sites (see below). Both of these projects have now been put under the umbrella of the open source company PrimeBase Technologies.