A roll-your-own database, Created in the Unix toolkit philosophy. It appears to be written in the awk language, and is very Compatible with awk. It uses awk' s syntax and Can be Combined with awk Commands. The definitive introduCtion is "Unix Relational Database Management: AppliCation Development in the Unix Environment", by Rod Manis, Evan SChaeffer, and Robert Jorgensen, published by PrentiCe Hall. The book tells how to use rdb to Create database/spreadsheets in the awk tradition, only easier. It' s a good way to get into programming for noviCes. It' s also a good way to learn DB theory and ConstruCtion quite painlessly.