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MySQL Uses Microsoft's Open Source Software
EqualSlash writes "The Windows installer for the upcoming MySQL 4.1 release will be built using Microsoft's first ever open source project - Windows Installer XML toolset(Wix). According to an InternetNews report, they are using Wix to convert the MSI file designed using InstallShield into XML to achieve greater control over the installer. Of course, they are simply using it because it's Open Source (CPL license) and in good faith. Earlier this year, when Microsoft surprised everybody by releasing the Wix project under an open source license, some were cautious about using it, as the specific XML schema it uses might be patented just like the Office xml schema. Whatever.. Rob Mensching, Wix's lead developer, is very happy about MySQL choosing to use Wix for their installer."
Wait, so what you're implying is...
Someone open-sourcing something causes more people to use it?!?!?
If it weren't for the fact that this is MS's open source creation being used, this would not be news.
In any case, kudos to MySQL for taking the first step with Wix and to Microsoft for trying something they have otherwise sworn against.
Hopefully more people will use Wix, and most importantly, will modify it and contribute changes. That would be a nice way of showing MS just what open source can offer, something which everyone else seems to have figured out already.
..components as the Windows installer I don't mind; no, actually I am happy that even MS can contribute a bit to the open source world.
Simply because the whole MySQL project can't be taken down by MS even though they're using Wix. It's not important enough for the project's life, that's it!
but that's their call. Surely, there must be other alternatives than using something from M$. It's an installer - can't they use Nullsoft or something else?
Pain is merely failure leaving the body
A small triumph over the near hysterical patent paranoia.
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
By opening up the source and making it possible for OSS developers to use a high quality installer, Microsoft has shown that it realizes the importance of Open Source software to its user base.
Amazing magic tricks
I've been trying to get my feet wet with this WiX stuff, but really the documentation is extremely lacking.
It looks neat but there's no way to find out the complex stuff without generating an xml from an msi or something.
Artists against online scams http://www.aa419.org/
Has anyone figured out what Microsoft *true* intentions are? I bet there is some legal issue hidden somewhere waiting to be uncovered. But that's just me.
http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/articles/4.1/s erver-type.png/
http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/articles/4.1/d atabase-usage.png/
http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/articles/4.1/s ecurity-settings.png/
Why can't we linux folk have a nice, sexy installer like that? Or do we already? Don't get me wrong, but sometimes, I'm just too lazy to read instructions and at times like that a GUI installer could be the ideal solution...
I am a viral sig. Please help me spread.
The Windows Template Library is released as CPL as well. I don't know since when this has been, but the product has been in existence for quite some time now.
... Microsoft will add security and a lot of features to MS SQL Server replacing it by MySQL.
Apache already does release an MSI format package, maybe they, too, could convert to WiX.
And then, there's only PHP left, that should come in an MSI file, and all would be fine.
OSS programmers should realize how important the installation package is. Because with an intelligent enough package (MSIs for Win32, debs for Debian etc), it's no longer simply copying and possibly files, but real Software Management. This is going to open doors to the large companies.
And yes, I know, MSI is a Microsoft idea, but it does make sense. Any large customer nowadays wants all the software to be re-packaged in MSI format (hell, repackaging Oracle Client sucks, you can believe me!).
Is this the first step of MS trying to get into open source and become a major player? Microsoft has never been an innovator, but they are really good at stealing someone else's idea and business model (e.g. netscape, realplayer, etc., etc.) . . .perhaps they will foray into the "give the open source software away for free and sell the services and maintenance" business model. I'm sure that they won't do this for their core products . . . but for other things . . . like development tools or less popular products . . . maybe?
If Microsoft were to release the project under a OSS license and then nail a competitor that uses it for patent infringement, couldn't the competitor nail them for antitrust violations? That to me is the epitome of predatory business practice. Same thing with patents and mono. Companies like MS should be required by law to make their intentions match up with their public statements. If they go through an open process, standardize and such, enforcement of patents against those who use the open specs and products should be illegal under antitrust laws.
Click here or a puppy gets stomped!
I thought Microsoft had a EULA exception that their development tools couldn't be used to create software under "viral" open source licenses.
Maybe they have an exception for themselves or maybe they used GCC to create WIX. (not!)
Regarding Open Source: There's nothing to stop Microsoft from putting out Microsoft Linux is there?
I don't like Microsoft but they will stop being hated so much when they transition themselves from a company that expects to create standards to one that merely contributes to them.
IBM learned that lesson and geeks love them now but they were the Microsoft of their day.
As long as MySQL stays MySQL who cares? Maybe Microsoft will FINALLY have a true understanding of what open source is now. (Probably not though...)
...has had this for a while already.
Embrace, extend, and then extinct Micro$oft.
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That is what they would like to do, so not do it back to them?
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5388831.html
http://asia.cnet.com/news/personaltech/printfri
Critical programs like OpenOffice will help accomplish this.
http://www.openoffice.org/contributing/donate.h
Other apps like WINE will help as well.
http://www.winehq.com/
-Steve
I am a FreeNet supporter!
http://freenet.sourceforge.net/
Whey have an installer for each OS you are supporting? It seems counter productive..
Wouldnt it be better just to use a single installer for everything?
I know there are commercial ones ( like installanywhere ) and im sure there are opensourced ones.. If not, then perhaps its time for one.
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Assuming there aren't any overriding difficulties with patents or licence problems, this would absolutely ideal for deploying Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird. One of the biggest issues holding Firefox back from enterprise deployment in MS shops is the fact that there's no MSI installer. This would allow it to be rolled out to all the desktops domain-wide via Group Policy and , as the installer tracks any changes made, it can be rolled-back/uninstalled or upgraded easily. All that would needed to add to that would be some basic properties (hopefully via GPOs also) to allow admins to customise & lock it down a little (say, auto-set the web proxy details), and it'd be perfect!
0 33
:)
In fact, after doing a quick search it looks like someone's already done it (don't know if it uses WiX, though it is mentioned in the Bugzilla listing):
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=138
Superb! Finally a way to get rid of IE from the corporate desktops
...is to jerk off, or wank, as the Brits would say. My recommendation: don't wix too much, it gives you blisters ;-)
You really have no clue, do you?
"We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
your company produces a product that somehow incorporates/depens on MySQL, in which case you want it for all developers, but not anyone else. Brilliant, set that up in AD and your set, the devs have MySQL on ANY terminal they use whilst those people who aren't in the dev group are blissfully unaware it even exists.
I am NaN
...they could have used InnoSetup instead.
This might be just _slightly_ off topic, but I don't think Wix is MS's first open source project ;) There has been BASIC code that MS released, am I correct?
I get modded Troll twice in as many posts for questioning Microsoft's motives and for using M$ as a nickname.
After so many complaints about Slashdot being a Linux-lovers-only site? It looks like people can change, after all.
But, here my position - like it or not. I call it the way I see it and I've devoted far too many hours to scrutinizing M$ tactics over the last 9 years. I've also reasearched their company history , going back to their early days, although I'm not claiming expert knowledge.
When I see real change, I'll point it out - I was quite effusive in my praise of the vast improvement of Windows 2000 over the unstable crap that was NT 4.
And, as far as I'm concerned, M$ is a perfectly good nickname for them, as appropriate as Big Blue
is/was for IBM.
If you want to keep modding me Troll for this, knock yourselves out. I've been a Slashdotter since its first few months and
Pain is merely failure leaving the body
I always thought this isn't an official MS project. Isn't it from someone working for MS? I remeber reading this in his blog, but i don't have the link anymore...can someone confirm this?
Suppose I wanted to port WiX to run and install linux applications on linux (if i felt there were good reason to do so) would the license allow me to do so? And what-if I wanted to build an application for linux that used parts of WiX code ? say the XML parsing code or something?
Could using parts of microsofts open source offerings (in some cases) act as a double whammy against possible patent suits in the future? They aint gonna sue project (X) if it means project (Y) which they quite like might be affected etc.
If projects like MySQL are making the decision to use WiX it might be nice if their products used the same installer no matter which operating system is select as the base.
Nick
Electronic Music Made Using Linux http://soundcloud.com/polyp
The MySQL team simultaneously uncovered and patched five massive holes in the Wix toolset that would allow a hacker to take over your machine and default all installations to d:/pr()n/h4xx0r3d.
Film at eleven.
(I knew I shoulda backed up that directory)
"WIX" is shurely choosen intentionaly as fitting abbreviation for the average lonely male computer enthusiast. :-)
Wix is german (imperative) for "to wank". Search e.g. google for german phrases like "wix dir einen" and you will get the meaning
Microsoft packaging system on Linux? It would be like apt-get on Windows! Oh, wait...
is just an awesome name for native German speakers like me! It means something like jerking off...Haha! I guess they'll have to rename it as soon as it becomes more popular..
I swore off MS-based products during the XPSP2 debacle -- cold turkey.
I don't care that it's open sourced. It's microsoft. I'll be moving my databases to pgsql just as soon as it's technically feasible.