Why is/was Oracle such a successful company?

Google
h6hbb2

Go to company page Google

h6hbb2
Aug 25, 2021 14 Comments

Hoping for serious answers.

Please bear with me as I’ve only been in the tech industry for about 7 years.

I’ve noticed that many, many large enterprises have a significant Oracle footprint - primarily databases but occasionally some business platforms like Hyperion(?) and Peoplesoft(?).

These products appear to be extremely expensive - enterprises pay something like $50,000 _per core_(!) for the database.

My question is: why? There is a blind meme that Oracle has crap technology.

I’m pretty sure they didn’t make the first relational database. I’m pretty sure they weren’t the first to offer support on databases. Why are so many companies using Oracle, despite the extreme cost? What made Oracle so much better back in the day?

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TOP 14 Comments
  • Replace oracle with salesforce 🙈
    Aug 25, 2021 0
  • I always find it interesting to see how they are always up to date with changes in technology landscape just by adding minor features to the database. Stored procedures, oo, Java, internet, xml, grid, multi tenancy, cloud, machine learning. Those guys know how to sell the same 40 years old software in a new shiny box every few years. It’s a living proof that in technology nothing changes - everything has already happened, the new is just a buzzword and a minor tweak of the old under a new name.
    Aug 25, 2021 0
  • Oracle
    hot.dawg

    Go to company page Oracle

    hot.dawg
    It was the first commercial relational database. Ellison himself said in an interview that he got the idea of commercializing the db after reading a research paper written by an IBM scientist named none other than Edgar F. Codd, the father of relational database.

    IBM did not take Codd's idea of a relational db seriously, paving the way for Ellison and team to make a moolah out of it.
    Aug 25, 2021 1
    • Google
      h6hbb2

      Go to company page Google

      h6hbb2
      OP
      I stand corrected. Thank you! Incredible that they made the first relational database. No wonder they’re so successful.
      Aug 26, 2021
  • The CIA literally funded Ellison to create one of the first relational databases.
    Aug 25, 2021 1
  • Amazon / Eng
    yoevstc

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

    PRE
    Cisco, Ericsson, Amazon
    yoevstc
    Its use to be successful due to its database capabilities.. lets see what cloud holds for them in future
    Aug 25, 2021 1
    • Google
      MelGibson

      Go to company page Google

      MelGibson
      Yeah their db used to actually be great. And they have a host of HR Software too… their business practice was aggressive and hostile to customers (sales would force you into long contracts, licensing agreements that were hostile etc) which is why their reputation is bad now. Every company goes through their “oracle problem” phase where they migrate off but it’s a big investment often.
      Aug 25, 2021