[mdlug] Open source MySQL - MySQL Creator: Oracle to Purchase Sun which Owns M ySQL

[Adam Tauno Williams]

On Tue, 2009-12-15 at 10:33 -0800, David Lane wrote:
> Lets say wel build a wed site, widget_of_Every_flavor.com. With Linux
> Apache Mysql Php resources,  and we do 250,000 in the first year and
> another 125,000, the the first quarter of the next year and contenue
> to grow. 
> Oracle would love to get us in one of there lower end agreements, but
> it would make more business since to stay with Mysql.

Would it?  Not if performance, stability, and audit capability are a
problem.  And as your business grows, despite your website traffic, you
are going to need more robust accounting, finance, and HR
applications... all of which Oracle sells.

> Starting off with Oracle would have been cost prohibitive. I have been
> IT shops that were Oracle where there were MySql was the data base of
> choice because Oracle ment more fees, or a "Deeper" relationship. 
> I dont think the princibles would want to abandon the cash cow that
> MySQL built. 

Do those shops that choose MySQL because it was *cheaper* then turn
around and pay MySQL for support?  Doubtful;  that percentage is
probably pretty low.

And, you still overlook that you can get:
 * PostgreSQL for free, unlimited
 * DB2 for free
<http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/db2/linux-unix-windows/edition-express.html>
 * Oracle for free
 <http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/database/xe/index.html>

  Free DB2 has some very minor restrictions, Oracle free version
somewhat tighter ones, but still capable of the loads of the vast
majority of MySQL sites.

Nobody who chooses a database platform primarily on the basis of cost is
of interest to any vendor.