update Australian MySQL expert Arjen Lentz today said that Oracle's purchase of Sun Microsystems and the associated MySQL open-source database assets was not a problem for MySQL users.
These are definitely interesting times, but in any case no worries for MySQL users
MySQL specialist Arjen Lentz
Brisbane-based Lentz is a former community relations manager for MySQL and is the founder of Open Query, a local firm which provides services and training around the software. MySQL has long been seen as a strong competitor with Oracle's own database technology, which it maintains as proprietary software.
"MySQL benefits Oracle as a company, and of course it's owned the InnoDB storage engine for several years now already and has been good in developing it further, GPL-licensed," Lentz told ZDNet.com.au in an email.
Quoting Marten Mickos, former MySQL AB CEO, Lentz said that it made no sense for Oracle to kill off MySQL.
"The MySQL code base is GPL-licensed of course, and there is expertise outside Sun, for instance by Monty Program Ab [MySQL's original author Monty Widenius' new company] for development, and Open Query based here in Australia handling support and training," Lentz said.
Lentz added that the timing of the announcement to coincide with the annual MySQL conference was quite brilliant and that a wait-and-see approach to deal would be prudent, as Oracle has always been good at not showing its intentions.
"These are definitely interesting times, but in any case no worries for MySQL users," he said.
Smart move by Oracle. Within 5 years mySQL will be deader than Monty Python's parrot.