Relational algebra may feel like more of an invention than a discovery, but it proves to be a valuable tool in the world of databases, tables, and spreadsheets. The author explores building “better spreadsheets” by using derived tables that function like database views, incorporating time-indexed paradigms inspired by functional reactive programming. They find that notation like A[t+1] = A[t] ∪ B[t] is surprisingly helpful for solving concurrency issues. By using relational algebra and its extensions creatively, they can express complex operations and queries with ease. Their experimental scrapscript notation shows promise in handling more complexity, leading to intriguing possibilities for the future.
https://taylor.town/reactive-relational-algebra