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

There were some attempts to create RDBMS's that were more like relational algebra. IBM had a RDBMS in the 80's called BS12 (the 12 relational operators from Codd). See article by Hugh Darwen:
http://www.mcjones.org/System_R/bs12.html

"Amund Trovåg" wrote:

> Hi all DB-theorists! :)
>
> 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

--
Anton Versteeg
DB2 Specialist
IBM Netherlands