Is SQL a Real Standard Any More? And, if by standard it is meant that there exists the three essential components of any successful standard,
A significant market share vendor community
Publically developed, available, and evolving standards
Enforced conformance tests
Then while the first two exist, the third does not. Hence SQL no longer represents a successful information technology standard. SQL could, however again achieve the status of a successful standard if one or more large organizations with buying-clout defined conformance tests, conducted conformance testing, and then only purchased conforming products. proof:http://www.tdan.com/i016hy01.htm