SIGMINI NEWSLETTER April, 1978 A SURVEY OF MINI-DATA BASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN 1977 Jacob Slonim Michael W. Farrell Paul S. Fisher Computer Science Department Kansas State University Performance Evaluation of Three Microcomputer Systems in a Small Business Data Processing Environment T° G. Lewis Associate Professor Computer Science Department Oregon State University In March, 1977, a team of students under the guidance of the author began studying three personal computer systems to determine their strengths and weaknesses when placed in a data processing environment. The three systems were chosen to represent a broad spectrum of contemporary microcomputer based data processing equipment. System W is a firmware BASIC computer originally designed for scientific applications but found being used in a variety of business processing applications. System T is a storage display graphics computer based on the Motorola 6800 microprocessor ROM BASIC, and ROM operating system. System D is an Intel 8080 based computer designed specifically for business data processing. A survey of minicomputer data base management systems was conducted to determine the current state of the industry. The results of the survey are highlighted in this paper to provide a broad view of the features of commercially available mini-data base systems. Among the topics presented are hardware requirements, software implementation, data independence, binding, integrity, privacy controls, installation base, availability, and user considerations. In addition, the relationship between the growth of the minicomputer market and mini-DBMS market in the second half of the 70's is emphasized. THE CONTICOMPUTER SYSTEM A COMMODITIES DATABASE Daniel Martin Department of Mathematical Sciences Memphis State University Preprocessing: A Technique for Implementing Complex Systems on Minicomputers F. J. Polster Kernforschunqszentrum Karlsruhe Institut fuer Datenverarbeitung in der Technik 7500 Karlsruhe, Postfach 3640 Federal Republic of Germany A computer system used to support the technical research department of Conticommodity is described. The system is installed on a Data General Eclipse S/200 computer and has been in operation since June, 1976. It is centered around a 12MB data base of commodity prices and includes plotter and communication software. THE SUBSYSTEM APPROACH TO ENHANCING SMALL PROCESSOR OPERATING SYSTEMS Malcolm G. Lane Department of Statistics and Computer Science West Virginia University This paper reports on the implementation of a powerful data manipulation language of a data base system for minicomputers. The technique of language preprocessing is employed: The basic idea is to identify those tasks which can be performed at compile-time and have them executed in the course of program compilation. Thus the size of the run-time module as well as execution-times can be reduced. The data base system F A D A B S illustrate this approach. is used to Operating systems for small processors often do not take full advantage of a small processor's resources. The implementation of a subsystem to enhance the standard operating system has proved to be an effective method to increase the utilization of a small processor's resources. Several different subsystems for small processors are discussed. The advantages of using the subsystem approach in a small processor environment are given. Volume 4 Number 2 Page 5

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