The only good reason is that SQL is the only main interface for most of the main DBs.

There is NOT other *good reason*.

P.D: But, why? Well, at first SQL was truly small. Then the cost of "just adding" something look easier than redo another lang.

TODAY, SQL is insanely bad and complex.

To the point that you can, literally, learn Rust faster than SQL.

Seriously! look for example how many reserved words you need to be aware of:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SQL_reserved_words

P.D: I implement parts of the SQL support for a RDBMS. I think the teams expect >5 years to fully do it.

I bet is possible to implement Rust way faster than that (ie: I mean here for both: Parsing and correctly executing, not all optimization and other concerns)

Here is a whole seminar series on SQL alternatives https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSE8ODhjZXjbpOIrZheFWxk...

It’s pretty interesting!

I think one part that is overlooked by people who want to replace sql, is just how popular sql is with programmers. Maybe its just me, but sql is one of my favourite languages that i deal with on a regular basis.

I think its similar to regex that way. There are deficiencies that are hard to objectively defend, but at the end of the day its something i enjoy using and gets the job done.