In short, in the early days, there was chaos.

Standardization With the 360

Then, IBM introduced the 360 line of processors. The IBM 360 was the first broad-scale
successful attempt at standardization. With the IBM 360 when you wrote code, that code
could be upgraded to a larger processor in the 360 line of products with little or no
alteration of the code. Today, we take the interchangeability of software and systems for
granted. But there once was a day when upgrading software and systems was a real
headache.

Shortly after the IBM 360 was introduced, IBM introduced the information management
system—IMS. IMS ran on the IBM 360 line of products. IMS was not the first DBMS.
But IMS was the first DBMS that could run on standardized software. In addition, IMS
was able to manage a large amount of data. (Note: large is an entirely relative number.
The amount of data that IMS could process in its early years is miniscule to what can be
processed today. But the volume of data that IMS could handle was significant for the
day and age.)

IBM had recognized and had taken the high ground for large-scale, standardized database
management with IMS. From a military standpoint, IBM enjoyed the high ground.

Online Transaction Processing

But in short order, it was discovered that other things than database management could
be done with IMS. Not only could IMS manage databases, but also when you coupled a
data communications (DC) component into the mix, that IMS coupled with a data
communication monitor could do what is termed online transaction processing.

Now, IBM and IMS were positioned to do something that was dramatic. Now, IBM and
IMS were positioned to start to engage in online transaction processing.

The dramatic thing about online transaction processing was that with online transaction
processing, the computer could be ingrained very deeply into the fabric of the business.
Prior to online transaction processing, the computer was able to enhance many business
processes. But with the advent of online transaction processing, the computer could be
woven into the day-to-day fabric of the operations of the corporation. Never before had
the computer been an essential ingredient to the running of the business. With online

Chapter 4.1: A Brief History of Big Data