The relational model and relational algebra - why did SQL become the industry standard?

I am currently trying to work out why SQL and not relational algebra became the industry standard in 1986(I think it was). Is this because of the more "technical" language of rel. algebra and the difficulty in creating universal queries, or is it something else?

I am a student at a master's program in information science, and I am trying to see if there is a reason for doing my dissertation on something that involves making relational algebra more usable, by e.g. making new operators. Right now I am trying to figure out why relational algebra is a dead language.

Thanks in advance for any help and pointers.

regards,
Amund Trovåg Received on Fri Feb 07 2003 - 13:34:13 CET