Hi Andrew, ----- Original Message -----
On 26 August 2012 15:07, Stewart Smith <stewart@flamingspork.com> wrote:
"Trent W. Buck" <trentbuck@gmail.com> writes:
Julian wrote:
I thought it was rather odd that they (Oracle) bought mysql to begin with...
IIRC Sun bought MySQL, then Oracle bought Sun.
Yes, this is correct. MySQL probably considered an added bonus in that acquisition.
My understanding was that taking control of MySQL was a key part of the deal for Oracle to buy Sun. (from listening to http://twit.tv/show/floss-weekly/194) (along with Java patents). I got the impression Oracle was thinking MySQL was just too much like competition and getting their hands on it would be very helpful for selling their Oracle DB.
Other people conjecturing the same thing doesn't make something true. Java may well have been a considering in buying Sun tech, but think particularly of the hardware expertise, service network and other assets. The thought that MySQL played a particular part in the Sun acquisition is somewhere between delusional and pretentious - that makes MySQL very very expensive indeed. It makes no (economic) business sense. Of course it was *convenient*, but that's an entirely different matter.
Then many of the MySQL people forked / produced MariaDB after seeing what Oracle was doing to MySQL.
Incorrect on the timeline: Drizzle and the OurDelta packages started before Sun got bought, and same for Monty leaving Sun and starting his own gig again (from which MariaDB came).
It's just that most people don't know that MariaDB doesn't have the brand recognition and that people don't know that MariaDB is aiming to be as much a drop in replacement for MySQL as possible. I think they claim 99% compatible... I assume Oracle wants people to remain in ignorance as well.
Those that care about Oracle tend to express their views in terms of hatred - I tend to see that in our OSS sphere as well as different corporate environments I deal with in my company. Cheers, Arjen. -- Exec.Director @ Open Query (http://openquery.com) MySQL services Sane business strategy explorations at http://Upstarta.biz Personal blog at http://lentz.com.au/blog/