O Crominho do Técnico

Mysql is the most ubiquitous database server in the world as far as number of installations goes. It is also open source and you can use for free or buy support for it. If you have ever bought any hosting programs or use a simple website setup that is backed up by a database, chances are that you are using a mysql server. Sun makes Oracle. They are the microsoft of databases: expensive, provide professional support and have solutions for huge databases. The ones your bank uses. Bigger than your mind can conceive.

Sun bought Mysql a while ago and Oracle is about to buy Sun. That means that Oracle gets to buy their biggest open source competitor that is worth a lot of money. America doesn’t care about it and has given the go ahead but Europe has raised some questions. Oracle is being very pre-emptive about it and has asked big clients to get in touch with EC to support this move.

If you feel like you don’t trust Oracle or just want to see Mysql’s creator viewpoint, you should read this and email comp-merger-registry@ec.europa.eu with your thoughts.

Now, before you do that, you should really understand that this would not be the end of the world. There’s other stuff out there, postgresql for smaller setups and Ingres for more complex and bigger setups. For most people, mysql is already totally overkill as features go.

update: Oracle has just released this document.