Will Oracle kill mySQL, and will Postgress emerge stronger?

With the recent closing of the Oracle deal to purchase Sun for $7.4B, many are wondering if this is the last straw for mySql. With barely anyone, if anyone, left from the mySql coding department left, how will Oracle deal with mySql and will they let it fade away. mySql has been the largest open source database for many php programmers for a long time, and now everyone running personal and commerical apps on the popular database are left to wonder if they need to start looking more closely at Postgress. Postgress touts its platform as being “The most advanced open source database”. You can find out mor about mySql and Postgress on their sites.

This reminds me of a few years ago when mySql and FrontBase were battling it out to see who would take over the open source database market. Well, we all know who won that battle. In order to stay in the limelight, Oracle will need to keep the mySql project running as it always has, and not think it will thrive on its own without development and work. Obviously they are looking to make up the $7.4B somewhere, and open source software does not pay the bills. The release of mySql 5.1 did not go so well, leaving many wondering if the lack of team experience on the project, and not having many, if any, of the original members working on the project means there will be no future for it.

I was not a big fan of mySql until a couple of years ago when they implemented stored procedures and a more stable base. Now, I, like so many others have my share of mySql db’s running in different enviromnets. I am and will always be on the MSSQL bandwagon, because I think it offers so much more than mySql. But, for what it is, and what I have seen it capable of doing, it can hold its own in many areas in web and system development. The biggest drawback I always hear is, you want to pay $11k for MSSQL over free mySql? Well, it has its place.

Bottom line – I will start looking at Postgress to see how and if I need to start transitioning. Hopefully not. My note to Oracle – Keep this product and project alive. It may not bring in the same dollars as your main database product, but I think it will go a long way in saving face. Good luck to all you developers out there!