Is MySQL Slowly Turning Closed Source?

mpol writes "Sergei from MariaDB speculated on some changes within MySQL 5.5.27. It seems new testcases aren't included with MySQL any more, which leaves developers depending on it in the cold. 'Does this mean that test cases are no longer open source? Oracle did not reply to my question. But indeed, there is evidence that this guess is true. For example, this commit mail shows that new test cases, indeed, go in this "internal" directory, which is not included in the MySQL source distribution.' On a similar note, updates for the version history on Launchpad are not being updated anymore. What is Oracle's plan here? And is alienating the developer community just not seen as a problem at Oracle?"

Comments

Just use Postgresql

[SplashMyBandit]

Postgresql is also a Free Software multi-platform database. It was designed properly (unlike MySQL, Postgresqlwas designed with transactions in mind), has excellent internationalization support (proper 3 and 4 byte UTF, unlike MS SQL-Server with its UCS-2 or blob unicode [unless the very latest version has fixed this]).

Personally I prefer Postgresql to MySQL. While Postgresql looks more 'plain vanilla' I actually find it more straightforward to get easy things done (that is, pgadminIII doesn't look so flashy but I found it is much easier to get connected and get going than mysqlworkbench). YMMV of course, but if you are concerned about corporate control and the future of MySQL taking a look at Postgresql won't harm you - it is a nice(r) place to land if you have to.

Re:Just use Postgresql

[PhrstBrn]

Of course, if there is the facility to run PostgeSQL out-of-the-box and stand-alone, please feel free to correct me!

Sure, I can do that for you. Your assumption is wrong.

Re:Just use Postgresql

[innocent_white_lamb]

Perhaps you should be looking at Sqlite, which is a "a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, transactional SQL database engine" (as it says on their webpage).
 
You can run it interactively (or through a bash script or something) with the sqlite3 command line shell, or (most efficiently) hook it into your own programs and use it to do all kinds of clever SQL stuff directly within your program.
 
Oh yeah, it's also explicitly public domain, so you can use it for any purpose and in any application whatsoever.

Re:Just use Postgresql

[he-sk]

There are one-click installers available for Windows and OS X. On Linux, you would obviously the package management version.

You also don't have to run PostgreSQL as root at all. I develop on OS X and typically run an installation from my home directory. (I also compile my own version, but you don't have to do that.)

Re:Just use Postgresql

[mlwmohawk]

Not only are you wrong, you are really really wrong here.

Not only can you run PostgreSQL "out of the box" but you can run multiple instances of it with their own directory. You *never* run postgresql as root as it is not allowed.

Install or put postgresql in your path, it is really is this simple:

initdb -D /your/path/to/database
pg_ctl -D /home/markw/pgtest/data -l logfile start
createdb mydatabase
psql mydatabase

Now, you can configure your version of postgresql to be on a different port than others, you can run it as any non-privileged user. You can configure it to be occupy a pretty small resource footprint or configure it to be huge. You can put a database on almost any file system.

Anyone who says MySQL is easier is smoking crack.

Re:Just use Postgresql

[Bitsy Boffin]

Even the simple task of creating and managing users is much more difficult with MySQL.

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON database.* TO user@hostname IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

Creates said user connecting from said host with said password and gives it unrestricted access to said database.

Pretty difficult huh.

Good, maybe people can start to look elsewehere ..

[Anonymous Coward]

if they want to use open source database. Try Firebird SQL if you want to go light (lighter than mysql in most cases I've seen), or go with the big boys with PostgreSQL.

Re:Oracle doesn't care about developer people

[David Gerard]

Unfortunately, for most LAMP-stack applications that M is going to be MySQL or shit doesn't work. They're written to MySQL, and Postgres support is typically volunteer-maintained by one person. This sucks, yes.

Halfway solution: at least get the apps to move to MariaDB.

Re:Oracle doesn't care about developer people

[forgot_my_nick]

>Java is free like in libre, the reference implementation is under the GPLv2: OpenJDK

Java is NOT free as in Libre. While OpenJDK is the "reference implementation" (which in Oracles terminology means "Blame the Apache Foundation") it does not and will never include the closed source goodies in Oracle Java.

In addition, Linux distros are no longer allowed to redistribute Oracle Java due to some bizarre Ellinsionian fiat. (probably they want you to use Snoracle Linux). So If you still need Oracle Java for whatever reason, you have to install it yourself. However despite Larry's best efforts, the Community (thanks!) has come through with scripts and native packages to install recent Oracle Java on any Linux distro you can think of.