Database management--Computer programs

In 1981, Dr, Martin K. Solomon and Carl D. Kirshen published the paper, "PEIRCE: A Relational DBMS for Small Systems," that utilized Codd's relational algebra as a basis for this interactive database management system. Looking back, it is easy to see that PEIRCE was ahead of its time in many ways, especially by showing an early understanding of the relationship of triggers and virtual files, and recognizing the need for a user interface, known as the Clerk Oriented Interface. An historical overview of PEIRCE will be given, along with a comparison of PEIRCE to the ever popular state-of-the-art ORACLE relational database management system, as well as an explanation of my new extensions to the subsystems of the PEIRCE DBMS. The historical overview is useful because it covers the evolution of PEIRCE over a period of more than 15 years, and collects the previously disjoint information into one place. Also, this overview is interesting because it reflects the change in database and computer technology over that time.

This thesis describes the use and implementation of the
PEIRCE DBMS.
PEIRCE is an easy-to-use, efficient, portable and relationally
complete database management system.
The design philosophy behind PEIRCE is to provide a
powerful and efficient data manipulation language that
can be easily implemented on a variety of computers,
including microcomputers.
PEIRCE requires the user to learn only a small number of
simple, yet powerful commands. It is PEIRCE not the user
that bears the burden of efficiently implementing these
commands.
PEIRCE has been entirely written in C to enhance portability
to many computers.