Discover the power of SQL as a fourth-generation programming language in this 50-minute conference talk by Lukas Eder at Devoxx. Explore how modern relational databases like Oracle, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL utilize cost-based optimization to deliver on the promise of a robust declarative programming model. Learn how these databases adapt to changing data without sacrificing performance, enabling complex SQL statements to execute in sub-millisecond times against billion-row tables. Gain insights into how SQL outperforms hand-written data retrieval algorithms and why it excels as a language for business logic. Uncover the potential of SQL databases to generate algorithms beyond conventional expectations, and understand why mastering SQL is crucial for efficient database development.