SQL turns 50: A look back at its history

In the distant year of 1970, IBM computer scientist Ted Codd published a revolutionary paper titled "A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks," laying the foundation for the theory of the relational data model.

Initially, IBM was not eager to implement Codd's work. At the time, the company had IMS, a fairly successful hierarchical database that is still supported today. It was not until three years later, in 1973, that IBM launched System R, a research project to study Codd's theory.

Interestingly, Codd himself was barely involved in the development. Instead, two other IBM employees, Don Chamberlin and Ray Boyce, played a key role. They had already developed the SQUARE language before the project was launched.

SQUARE's syntax included many subscripts and some mathematical notations, making it difficult to type commands on the keyboard. Chamberlin and Boyce decided to make the language simpler and more user-friendly, with a structure reminiscent of an English sentence. Thus, SEQUEL was born, which was later renamed Structured Query Language (SQL).

The first release of SQL took place in June 1974.

How did Ted Codd feel about SQL?

He believed that the structured query language did not properly implement the theory of the relational data model. In his fight against unscrupulous DBMS vendors, Codd published the "12 Codd Rules," which describe what a relational DBMS should contain. Needless to say, SQL itself does not comply with all of them.

We recommend watching DataCamp's 200th episode dedicated to the 50th anniversary of SQL. In it, Don Chamberlin himself lovingly talks about his brainchild.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• SQL has evolved significantly over the years, with new features and standards being added regularly.
• Despite the emergence of NoSQL databases, SQL remains the dominant language for relational data management.
• SQL is a powerful tool that can be used to perform a wide variety of tasks on data, from simple queries to complex data analysis.

In conclusion, SQL has had a profound impact on the way we store, manage, and analyze data. It is a versatile and powerful language that is likely to continue to be used for many years to come.

P.S.: Here are a few SQL jokes generated by ChatGPT:

• Bar Joke: A database administrator walks into a bar and orders a drink. As he’s sitting there, he hears two tables talking. He turns to the bartender and says, “Hey! Can I join those tables?”
• Megabites: What do a shark and a database have in common? They both have megabytes!
• NoSQL Bar: A couple of relational databases walk into a NoSQL bar. The bartender says, "We don't serve your kind here."
• Worst Song Database: Would you like to see my database of the worst songs ever written? It's called a CarDB.
• IKEA and DBAs: Why did IKEA fire all their DBAs? Because they couldn't follow the foreign key constraints!