The Royal Bloodlines of Database Systems
Explore the fascinating genealogy of relational database management systems from their noble origins to modern descendants, updated as of October 10, 2025.
Major Database Dynasties
System R Lineage
The IBM research project that started it all, leading to DB2, Oracle, and SQL Server.
ExploreIngres Descendants
The academic project that spawned PostgreSQL and influenced many commercial systems.
ExploreModern Innovators
NewSQL, cloud-native, and AI-integrated databases building on decades of RDBMS evolution.
ExploreInteractive Timeline
1970
E.F. Codd's Relational Model
Edgar F. Codd publishes "A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks"
IBM System R
First implementation of SQL at IBM Research
1974
1974-1977
Ingres Project
University of California develops Ingres, leading to commercial RDBMS.
Oracle V2
First commercial SQL RDBMS released by Relational Software (now Oracle).
1979
1981
IBM SQL/DS
IBM releases SQL/DS for VSE/VM.
IBM DB2
IBM introduces DB2 for MVS.
1983
1986
Postgres
Berkeley develops Postgres, precursor to PostgreSQL.
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft releases SQL Server, based on Sybase.
1989
1995
MySQL
Open-source MySQL is released.
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL emerges from Postgres project.
1996
2000
SQLite
Embedded SQLite is released.
SAP HANA
SAP launches in-memory HANA.
2010
2012
Amazon Redshift
Cloud data warehouse Redshift launched.
CockroachDB
Distributed SQL database CockroachDB released.
2015
2023
SQL:2023 Standard
Introduces property graph queries in SQL.
AI Integration in RDBMS
Widespread AI-driven query optimization and vector search in relational databases.
2025
Database Family Tree
System R
IBM, 1974
Ingres
Berkeley, 1974
SQL/DS
IBM, 1981
DB2
IBM, 1983 → v13 2023
Oracle
1979 → v23ai 2024
Postgres
Berkeley, 1986
Informix
1983 → v14.10 2020
Sybase
1980s → v16.0 2020+
DB2 UDB
1986 → v11.5 2019
SQL Server
1987 → v2022, preview v2025
Teradata
1979 → Vantage 2020+
PostgreSQL
1996 → v17 2024
MySQL
1995 → v8.4 2024
Firebird
2000 → v5 2023
SAP HANA
2010 → v2.0 SPS07 2023
Redshift
2012, Postgres-based
CockroachDB
2015, Postgres compatible
YugabyteDB
2017, Postgres compatible
AlloyDB
Google, 2022
SQLite
2000 → v3.46 2024
MariaDB
2009 → v11.0 2024
Snowflake
2012, cloud warehouse
Source: Hasso-Plattner-Institut RDBMS Genealogy (Version 6)
About This Slide
This slide visualizes the evolution and genealogy of relational database management systems (RDBMS). From the foundational work of E.F. Codd to modern cloud-native databases, explore how these technologies have shaped data management.
Next: Slide 2 - The Evolution of SQL
Last updated: October 10, 2025