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Ask MySQL's CEO About Running a Free Software Business

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the world's-most-popular-free-software-database dept.

There have been so many articles written about the perils, pitfalls, and possible rewards of running a business based on free or open source software that we can't possibly link to them all. Instead, let's ask MySQL CEO Mårten Mickos how to make money with a company based on free software, because he runs a company that is almost always touted as one of the world's greatest free software (business) successes. You may want to read some of these interviews with Mårten before you come up with your own questions in order to avoid duplication, but other than that suggestion and the usual Slashdot interview rules, ask whatever you like, however you like.

3 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Perception of low quality for 'free' by OakDragon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How do you fight the perception that MySQL is not suitable for 'the real world' because it is free?

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    Dark Reflection
  2. R&D Directions? by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In a market where people are just looking for stability, simplicity & scalability, where do you turn for innovation in your products? Is there a lot of research and development towards new features and completely new products in MySQL's community or do you aim primarily to do one thing well? How do you influence the direction of this research in such a large open source project? Do you attempt to add direction at all?

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    My work here is dung.
  3. Achievements & Fallout by eldavojohn · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In your five years as MySQL CEO, what has been your proudest moment? Do you find it difficult to lead a company based on a product that belongs to a community? Do you ever experience any fallout/backfire from running your company on such a business model?

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    My work here is dung.