MySQL lives!
One big question that was raised in my mind by the acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle, now underway, has been resolved today – the fate of MySQL, owned by Sun and one of the competitors to Oracle’s database.
Frankly, I have worried about MySQL ever since it was purchased by Sun. 
Michael “Monty” Widenius, one of the original authors of MySQL, has founded the Open Database Alliance (ODA), a vendor neutral consortium for the open source database.
ODA states that it will become a hub for “MySQL” (currently a trademark of Sun Microsystems) and its derivative code, binaries, training, and support. ODA will work, specifically, on the software, support, and service for Widenius’ branch of MySQL, MariaDB, the source for which accesses the Maria storage engine named after Widenius’ youngest daughter.
According to the CNET article, the ODA statement read, in part, “The intent of the Open Database Alliance is to unify all MySQL-related development and services, providing a solution to the fragmentation and uncertainty facing the communities, businesses and technical experts involved with MySQL.”
Consortia (and “alliances”) are not always perfect solutions, but imperfect solutions are perferable to NO solutions, to a pragmatist like me. I feel much more comfortable this evening, and I believe that many other businesspeople feel the same way.
-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™
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