Codd, relational database inventor, dead at 79

[archerships]

From JerryKindall.com:

"...Although you may not realize it, you use technology based on the theories of Edgar F. "Ted" Codd every day. Codd developed the theoretical underpinnings of the relational database in a series of papers published by IBM (his employer at the time) in the 1970s. IBM, however, was not interested in a radical departure from what they were already doing with databases, and it took a guy named Larry Ellison to turn Codd's theories into a product, which eventually was called Oracle.

In 1981, Codd received the Turing Award for his work.

Born in Portland, England, Codd spent most of his professional life in the United States. He died April 18 at the age of 79..."

Comments

[psychomagnet.livejournal.com]

I was just talking about him last week in my 2-hour lunch-n-learn for our support staff. No one seemed too interested at the time, but I told them anyway because the history seemed important, especially in how quickly Larry picked it up and ran with it.

Hopefully they remembered enough to sit up and listen when they heard he passed.

[selfishgene.livejournal.com]

Database technology underlies a lot of cool things we take for granted. Like credit cards that work all over the planet. Like cell phones that can receive a call even though you are 500 miles outside your home town.