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."

Comments

Lets hear it for common sense

[Timesprout]

A small triumph over the near hysterical patent paranoia.

WiX problem

[Random Web Developer]

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.

Re:Software packaging underrated

[quantum bit]

Any large customer nowadays wants all the software to be re-packaged in MSI format (hell, repackaging Oracle Client sucks, you can believe me!).

Sort of a tangent, but I want to send a large "BAH!" to Oracle on behalf of everyone who has to deal with their buggy software. Any software on any OS which cannot properly deal with spaces in filenames is horribly broken in my book. After seeing the awfulness that is the "Oracle Installer" I wonder why anyone thinks their database is so hot.

Re:I'd rather they not use it

[haruchai]

How could they possibly think that Open Source is a failure? The average Joe may think that Open Source is the hot new thing but lots of BIG companies have embraced it in the last few years.

Besides, M$ doesn't really give a damn about embracing Open Source - what they care about is if it is possible to look like they're playing nice with their perceived biggest and keep on making money at the same time.
All MySQL's use of this does is allow them to point and say "Look, we're good guys now - if we weren't why would they use our stuff?!"

I have some reservations about SUN but I admit to being impressed when they released the source for Solaris 8 under their Sun Community Source License - I downloaded a copy of the entire code myself when it was first announced - and now they claim to be actively trying to release Solaris under a full Open Source License.
Sorry, but as things stand ( especially with Blusterin' Ballmer running around the world trying to shout down any opposing technology). the most you get out of me is admiration for M$ marketing savvy, their toughness and some of their tech.
As far as their motives go, I'll wait for some real evidence of change - this ain't it.

Re:Now I'm worried . . .

[Man in Spandex]

I don't think we should worry. I think MS understood that OSS is more than just for enthusiasts and that there is potential. I'm pretty sure they are testing this with WiX to see how far it goes and how popular it gets and if it's a success on a long shot, that they will create other projects for the same reason.

Sure its MS and they're evil in some way but remember, they aren't SCO :o

Windows Centric

[nurb432]

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.

Re:Windows Centric

[Bert64]

Wouldnt it be ironic to port WiX to linux.. You can bet microsoft made it windows only for a reason, and porting it to linux would be amusing at the very least.

This would be perfect for Mozilla Firefox, too!

[ManxStef]

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!

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=1380 33

Superb! Finally a way to get rid of IE from the corporate desktops :)

Re:Patents in this kind of case?

[mdfst13]

There is alrady a patent clause in the GPL. The current clause says that software cannot be distributed under the GPL if it is patent encumbered. It seems (did not RTFL) this license goes a step further and includes (and requires!) a patent license as part of it.

Not sure how the FSF will proceed here. The comments they sent me regarding the Sveasoft abuses of the GPL implied that they did not consider a license that virally applies contract terms to be valid. I.e. they would not be able to enforce a license that demands that patent rights be waived if you redistribute. The current GPL works the other way; if you hold patent rights, you can't redistribute under the GPL.

Note: the issue here is not Microsoft. The issue arises when IBM redistributes the software. Does it automatically get protection from IBM's patent portfolio?

Re:I see that Slashdot is changing

[haruchai]

You're probably right. I've seen ( and posted ) opinions on a variety of subjects that have either been ignored or modded up that were much more inflammatory than what I posted on this topic.

However, anything I've recently written about Microsoft has been modded Troll or Flamebait, very quickly. I suspect that there are shills doing searches on well-known nicknames like M$ or Micro$shit - I only ever use the former although I have referred to posters who have bashed non-MS OSes unfairly as Micro$ofties, or, if they have been posting untruths, as Bill-lickers.
However, I do my best to shoot down posters who bash Windows or other OSes undeservedly.