February 24, 2026
The database ate the PC
The Weird OS Built Around a Database [video]
Database-first computer has fans yelling 'Pick!' while IBM vets say 'we did that too'
TLDR: A video spotlights a database-centered operating system, reviving the Pick era. Comments split between nostalgia and IBM vets claiming OS/400 did the same, with jokes about creator Dick Pick—sparking debate over whether database-first computing is genius or just old news, and why that design still matters today.
Asianometry’s new video about a computer built around a database didn’t just inform—it detonated nostalgia. One viewer confessed, “I usually don’t watch videos, but this one captured my attention,” and old-school fans pounced: “I knew this would be PICK”—the 1970s–80s system where the data ran the show. Cue memories of accountant uncles swearing it made business run like butter. Watch it here: Asianometry.
Then came the giggles. “Created by Dick Pick, no less,” became the thread’s meme moment, balancing history with name jokes. But the vibe shifted when the IBM crowd rolled in. Some expected it to be about OS/400 (now “IBM i”), and the turf war ignited: IBM veterans argued their machines also put a database at the core, while others noted modern platforms like Oracle and Microsoft SQL can build full web apps inside the database—basically, the server is the database.
The strongest opinion: this isn’t a quirky relic—it’s a bold design where the database is the whole show. The pushback: “cool, but not unique.” That friction made the comments the star, blending nostalgia, tech flexing, and dad-joke energy. For non-nerds: “database-first” means the whole computer revolves around the data—and it might be less rare than you think.
Key Points
- •Asianometry published a video titled “The Weird OS Built Around a Database.”
- •The YouTube page shows the channel has 913K subscribers and the video is 34:34 long.
- •The page displays an engagement count of 8.2K and includes subscribe/share/save options.
- •Users are prompted to sign in, including bot confirmation, to interact with the community.
- •Linked videos cover AT&T’s UNIX PC, OS evolution, and the rise of Oracle, SQL, and relational databases.