Summary

This chapter provided a short history of SAS, focusing on how it has been used for data storage and analysis over the years. Initially, SAS data was stored on punch cards. Once data became electronic, the main challenge to SAS users working with big data was I/O. As SAS environments evolved from being on mainframes to being accessible by PCs, SAS developed new products and services to complement its core analytics and data management functions.

SAS data steps are procedural, and allow the programmer opportunities to greatly improve I/O through the use of certain commands, features, and approaches to programming. When SQL became popular, PROC SQL was invented. This allowed SAS users to choose between using data steps or SQL commands when managing data in SAS.

Today, SAS is still used in data warehousing, but there are new challenges with accessing data in the cloud. SAS data warehouses today can include predominantly SAS components, such as SAS VA and CAS. Or, SAS can...