System 2000[1][2][3] (S2K)[4][5] is a hierarchical database management system (DBMS).[2] Although not a relational database, S2K does have SQL support.[6] In 2007 it was noted that, while still 'running on systems cranking away in back rooms across the U.S.' it has a problem: "there's little curriculum coverage anymore at universities teaching computer science."[2]
System 2000 originated as software for the IBM mainframe environment. It could operate in batch processing mode or be used via CICS. [4][7] It competed with Cincom's Total, Software AG's ADABAS, Applied Data Research's DATACOM/DB, Computer Corporation of America's Model 204, and IBM Information Management System (IMS) and DL/I.[8] Unisys and CDC versions were subsequently released, as was an interface to SAS.[9]
Programmers could access its Data manipulation language (DML) via a precompiler;[10] these existed for COBOL, FORTRAN, and ASSEMBLY Language. Statements written in S2K's Procedural Language could be intermixed with these languages: the 3 character code "*PL" (in columns 1-3) identified these statements as intended for the precompiler (also referred to as a preprocessor[11]).
System 2000[12] was developed in 1970.[13] SAS Institute acquired S2K from Intel in 1984, which had acquired it from MRI Systems Corporation in 1979.[14]
MRI was founded by Robert L. Brueck.[15][16]