# Desktop databases

Revision 1 (11 October 2026) · Modeled snapshot · through 8 October 2026.

All figures are research-informed estimates of analytical activity. Significant errors may remain; decimal places do not imply measurement precision.

Layer: compute. Values cover the years in which this category appears in the public timeline. Absence is not proof of zero use.

## Names and inspection notes

### 1980–1983: Desktop databases

Local and departmental analytical execution in desktop database families, including dBASE. The pool counts reporting and analysis, not all licensed copies, data entry, or operational applications. SQLite has its own box. Queries passed through to a server are counted with that server; local desktop execution over another database’s tables uses federated native storage.

### 1984: Desktop databases

Local and departmental analytical execution in desktop database families, including dBASE and FoxBASE. The pool counts reporting and analysis, not all licensed copies, data entry, or operational applications. SQLite has its own box. Queries passed through to a server are counted with that server; local desktop execution over another database’s tables uses federated native storage.

### 1985–1988: Desktop databases

Local and departmental analytical execution in desktop database families, including dBASE, FoxBASE, Clipper, Paradox, and FileMaker. The pool counts reporting and analysis, not all licensed copies, data entry, or operational applications. SQLite has its own box. Queries passed through to a server are counted with that server; local desktop execution over another database’s tables uses federated native storage. Early FileMaker was not yet relational; this is a desktop-origin family, not a claim that every product was relational in every year.

### 1989–1991: Desktop databases

Local and departmental analytical execution in desktop database families, including dBASE, FoxBASE/FoxPro, Clipper, Paradox, and FileMaker. The pool counts reporting and analysis, not all licensed copies, data entry, or operational applications. SQLite has its own box. Queries passed through to a server are counted with that server; local desktop execution over another database’s tables uses federated native storage. Early FileMaker was not yet relational; this is a desktop-origin family, not a claim that every product was relational in every year.

### 1992–1994: Desktop databases

Local and departmental analytical execution in desktop database families, including dBASE, FoxBASE/FoxPro, Clipper, Paradox, FileMaker, and Microsoft Access. The pool counts reporting and analysis, not all licensed copies, data entry, or operational applications. SQLite has its own box. Queries passed through to a server are counted with that server; local desktop execution over another database’s tables uses federated native storage. Early FileMaker was not yet relational; this is a desktop-origin family, not a claim that every product was relational in every year.

### 1995–2026: Desktop databases

Local and departmental analytical execution in desktop database families, including dBASE, FoxBASE/FoxPro, Clipper, Paradox, FileMaker, and Microsoft Access. The pool counts reporting and analysis, not all licensed copies, data entry, or operational applications. SQLite has its own box. Queries passed through to a server are counted with that server; local desktop execution over another database’s tables uses federated native storage.

## Annual estimates

| Year | Name in this year | Share of full compute layer | Connections and details |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [1980](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1980.md) | Desktop databases | 0.05% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1980/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1981](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1981.md) | Desktop databases | 0.25% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1981/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1982](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1982.md) | Desktop databases | 0.75% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1982/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1983](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1983.md) | Desktop databases | 1.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1983/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1984](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1984.md) | Desktop databases | 2.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1984/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1985](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1985.md) | Desktop databases | 3.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1985/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1986](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1986.md) | Desktop databases | 4.35% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1986/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1987](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1987.md) | Desktop databases | 5.15% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1987/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1988](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1988.md) | Desktop databases | 6% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1988/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1989](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1989.md) | Desktop databases | 6.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1989/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1990](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1990.md) | Desktop databases | 7% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1990/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1991](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1991.md) | Desktop databases | 7.65% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1991/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1992](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1992.md) | Desktop databases | 8.35% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1992/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1993](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1993.md) | Desktop databases | 9% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1993/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1994](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1994.md) | Desktop databases | 9.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1994/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1995](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1995.md) | Desktop databases | 10% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1995/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1996](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1996.md) | Desktop databases | 9.65% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1996/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1997](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1997.md) | Desktop databases | 9.35% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1997/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1998](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1998.md) | Desktop databases | 9% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1998/compute/desktop.md) |
| [1999](https://history.columnar.tech/years/1999.md) | Desktop databases | 8.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/1999/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2000](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2000.md) | Desktop databases | 8% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2000/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2001](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2001.md) | Desktop databases | 7.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2001/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2002](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2002.md) | Desktop databases | 7% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2002/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2003](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2003.md) | Desktop databases | 6.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2003/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2004](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2004.md) | Desktop databases | 6% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2004/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2005](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2005.md) | Desktop databases | 5.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2005/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2006](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2006.md) | Desktop databases | 5.1% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2006/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2007](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2007.md) | Desktop databases | 4.7% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2007/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2008](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2008.md) | Desktop databases | 4.3% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2008/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2009](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2009.md) | Desktop databases | 3.9% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2009/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2010](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2010.md) | Desktop databases | 3.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2010/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2011](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2011.md) | Desktop databases | 3.2% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2011/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2012](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2012.md) | Desktop databases | 2.9% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2012/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2013](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2013.md) | Desktop databases | 2.6% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2013/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2014](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2014.md) | Desktop databases | 2.3% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2014/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2015](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2015.md) | Desktop databases | 2% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2015/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2016](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2016.md) | Desktop databases | 1.9% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2016/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2017](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2017.md) | Desktop databases | 1.8% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2017/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2018](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2018.md) | Desktop databases | 1.7% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2018/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2019](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2019.md) | Desktop databases | 1.6% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2019/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2020](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2020.md) | Desktop databases | 1.5% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2020/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2021](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2021.md) | Desktop databases | 1.4% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2021/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2022](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2022.md) | Desktop databases | 1.35% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2022/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2023](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2023.md) | Desktop databases | 1.25% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2023/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2024](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2024.md) | Desktop databases | 1.15% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2024/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2025](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2025.md) | Desktop databases | 1.1% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2025/compute/desktop.md) |
| [2026](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2026.md) | Desktop databases | 1% | [Inspect](https://history.columnar.tech/connections/2026/compute/desktop.md) |

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