The whole OS is essentially a really big nosql database, the filesystems are journaled and you have “files” but you also have dynamic files called “print queues” and executables are “jobs” that run queries and output into queues.
I know at least two of the major hotel chains use them still in their core network.
The best thing about it was all the functions that existed for string manipulation, since every data record was just a big string with demarcations for columns (and values and subvalues, making it technically a 4D database). You could use it to consume nearly any data format and throw together a quick-and-dirty parser in minutes. Really good for rapid proof-of-concepts, but occasionally challenging to maintain data integrity when you have all the rope in the world to hang yourself with.
I miss working with it, compared to SQL which is stupidly rigid and obnoxiously fragile in comparison.
I’ve worked with this monstrosity, it’s not unlike other mainframe operating systems like IMB’s “System i”
I believe there’s still developers out there working on modern versions of it
https://www.rocketsoftware.com/sites/default/files/2025-09/universe-feature-release-matrix.pdf
The whole OS is essentially a really big nosql database, the filesystems are journaled and you have “files” but you also have dynamic files called “print queues” and executables are “jobs” that run queries and output into queues.
I know at least two of the major hotel chains use them still in their core network.
The best thing about it was all the functions that existed for string manipulation, since every data record was just a big string with demarcations for columns (and values and subvalues, making it technically a 4D database). You could use it to consume nearly any data format and throw together a quick-and-dirty parser in minutes. Really good for rapid proof-of-concepts, but occasionally challenging to maintain data integrity when you have all the rope in the world to hang yourself with.
I miss working with it, compared to SQL which is stupidly rigid and obnoxiously fragile in comparison.