3 ms·

Ingres: Can You Ever Go Back? (2006)

52 points by shubhamjain 8y ago

dpwm 8y ago
It appears that Ingres Corporation is still around, under the name Actian. [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actian
lkrubner 8y ago
To read about the technical failures, which lasted for many years, increases my respect for MongoDB, which was a bit more aggressive tackling the technical problems that haunted its early years. MongoDB had a partially deserved bad reputation for thinks like locks, but they worked hard to improve that. It had a bad reputation for consistency errors but they worked with Kyle Kingsbury to find the flaws and eventually overcome them. In contrast, it sounds like Ingres was not able to create row level locking, even after many years of it being a crucial factor that was allowing Oracle to win. I wonder if Ingres was too careful with investment? Sounds like Oracle nearly destroyed itself during the hypergrowth phase. This phase of growth seems to be something investors now understand better. Indeed, rather than considering it a weakness, hockey stick growth curves have become a requirement.
- rubiquity 8y ago
  Interesting perspective you have there. I'm of the opposite beliefs. If you're going to undertake a project, it is a sign of respect to your users and the problem you're solving that you nail the foundational problems in that space. Shipping a database that loses data is like shipping a bank that loses money and is not something I'm willing to respect.
  - BubRoss 8y ago
    I completely agree. I'm still unclear how mongodb was able to not only succeed but thrive with all it fundamental problems.
marktangotango 8y ago
Very enlightening bit of history here. Also interesting the bit about the CA graveyard. I know of at least one really useful utility that was bought by CA and disappeared off the face of the earth. I implemented a clone and make a nice monthly supplement with it.
slowhand09 8y ago
I worked on Oracle software for several years while my close friend worked on Ingres software 4 offices over. We both touted the advantages of what we worked with, and lamented the advantages of the other's software. I was sorry to see Ingres fall out of the market. Cool they are coming back, in whatever shape.
dddw 8y ago
well written piece, nice read

52 points by shubhamjain 8y ago

dpwm 8y ago

It appears that Ingres Corporation is still around, under the name Actian. [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actian

lkrubner 8y ago

To read about the technical failures, which lasted for many years, increases my respect for MongoDB, which was a bit more aggressive tackling the technical problems that haunted its early years. MongoDB had a partially deserved bad reputation for thinks like locks, but they worked hard to improve that. It had a bad reputation for consistency errors but they worked with Kyle Kingsbury to find the flaws and eventually overcome them. In contrast, it sounds like Ingres was not able to create row level locking, even after many years of it being a crucial factor that was allowing Oracle to win. I wonder if Ingres was too careful with investment? Sounds like Oracle nearly destroyed itself during the hypergrowth phase. This phase of growth seems to be something investors now understand better. Indeed, rather than considering it a weakness, hockey stick growth curves have become a requirement.

rubiquity 8y ago
Interesting perspective you have there. I'm of the opposite beliefs. If you're going to undertake a project, it is a sign of respect to your users and the problem you're solving that you nail the foundational problems in that space. Shipping a database that loses data is like shipping a bank that loses money and is not something I'm willing to respect.
- BubRoss 8y ago
  I completely agree. I'm still unclear how mongodb was able to not only succeed but thrive with all it fundamental problems.

marktangotango 8y ago

Very enlightening bit of history here. Also interesting the bit about the CA graveyard. I know of at least one really useful utility that was bought by CA and disappeared off the face of the earth. I implemented a clone and make a nice monthly supplement with it.

slowhand09 8y ago

I worked on Oracle software for several years while my close friend worked on Ingres software 4 offices over. We both touted the advantages of what we worked with, and lamented the advantages of the other's software. I was sorry to see Ingres fall out of the market. Cool they are coming back, in whatever shape.

dddw 8y ago

well written piece, nice read