InterSystems Caché

Internally, Caché stores data in multidimensional arrays capable of carrying hierarchically structured data. These are the same “global” data structures used by the MUMPS programming language, which influenced the design of Caché, and are similar to those used by MultiValue (also known as PICK) systems. In most applications, however, object and/or SQL access methods are used.

Caché ObjectScript, Caché Basic or T-SQL can be used to develop application business logic. External interfaces include native object binding for C++, Java, EJB, ActiveX, and .NET. Caché supports JDBC and ODBC for relational access. XML and web services are also supported.

Caché Server Pages (CSP) technology allows tag-based creation of web applications that generate dynamic web pages, typically using data from a Caché database. Caché also includes InterSystems Zen, an implementation of AJAX that enables component-based development of rich web applications.

The story of Caché begins in the late 1970s when InterSystems Corporation was founded by Phillip T. Ragon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Initially, the company focused on building software for the healthcare industry, with a strong emphasis on data management and integration. InterSystems recognized the need for a powerful and efficient database system that could handle the complex data requirements of healthcare applications.

In 1997, InterSystems launched Caché, a groundbreaking database technology that introduced a revolutionary concept known as a "post-relational" database. Unlike traditional relational databases, which relied heavily on tabular structures and SQL, Caché offered a multidimensional data model with integrated object and SQL capabilities. This unique approach allowed developers to handle complex data structures more efficiently and provided seamless integration between object-oriented and relational data models.

One of the key features that set Caché apart was its advanced caching mechanism. Caché utilized an in-memory database cache that dramatically improved application performance by reducing disk I/O operations. This caching capability made Caché an ideal choice for applications that required rapid access to frequently accessed data, such as real-time analytics and transaction processing systems.

As Caché gained popularity, InterSystems continued to enhance and expand its functionality. In subsequent releases, InterSystems introduced additional features like support for distributed computing, high availability, and scalability. Caché became known for its reliability, scalability, and ability to handle large volumes of data with ease.

The success of Caché extended beyond the healthcare industry, attracting customers from various sectors, including finance, logistics, and government. Organizations recognized the value of Caché's unique data model and its ability to accelerate application development and deployment. With its seamless integration capabilities, Caché became a preferred choice for building data-intensive applications that required flexibility and high performance.

In 2013, InterSystems introduced a major upgrade to Caché with the release of InterSystems IRIS Data Platform. IRIS built upon the foundation of Caché, offering enhanced performance, scalability, and interoperability. IRIS integrated advanced analytics, natural language processing, and machine learning capabilities into the database platform, enabling developers to derive valuable insights from their data and build intelligent applications.

InterSystems has continued to invest in the development of Caché and IRIS, introducing new features and improvements to meet the evolving needs of its customers. The company has also expanded its global presence, establishing offices and partnerships worldwide to cater to a growing customer base.

Today, Caché and IRIS are widely recognized as leading database technologies, powering critical applications in industries such as healthcare, finance, logistics, and more. Their ability to handle complex data structures, deliver high performance, and provide seamless integration has made them a preferred choice for organizations seeking reliable and efficient data management solutions.

InterSystems claims Caché is the world's fastest object database.[1] However, high performance is achieved only for transactional operations that have a significantly hierarchical nature.

This database management system (DBMS) is used as part of hospital patient tracking, electronic medical record and medicine management systems, in products developed by companies such as Epic Systems as well as the VistA system used by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.[2] Sungard includes Caché in the AddVantage asset management software to finance industry customers such as banks.[3] Telecommunications vendors BT Group and Vodacom also use Caché.[4]

The DB-Engines website has ranked Caché as the most popular object-oriented DBMS every month since March 2013.[5]

Caché is a versatile database management system that can run on various operating systems, including:

1. Windows: Caché supports running on various versions of the Windows operating system, such as Windows Server and Windows Desktop editions.
2. Linux: Caché is compatible with several Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES), and Ubuntu.
3. Unix: Caché can run on Unix-based operating systems, including IBM AIX, HP-UX, and Solaris.
4. macOS: Caché is also available for macOS, allowing developers and organizations to use it on Apple Macintosh systems.

And other platform like, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, and OpenVMS.

GT.M, a related database system

• InterSystems Caché
• InterSystems Developer Community