Survey: MySQL use rises 25 percent
UPDATE (March 22, 1:35 p.m.): After this item was published, we discovered we gave an incorrect figure for the percentage of developers who said they use MySQL. The figure is 40 percent.
You now can discard any lingering traces of doubt that the open-source MySQL database competes with the incumbent proprietary products from Oracle, Microsoft and IBM.
Data released Thursday from an Evans Data Group survey of database usage among developers shows MySQL use increased from 32 percent in 2004 to 40 percent last year. The survey tallied real production use in corporate environments, not just tire-kicking or pilot projects, Evans spokesman Jon Broenen said.
"We continue to see the maturation of open-source databases reflected by the continually increasing levels of adoption," said Evans Data President John Andrews in a statement. "In an increasing number of our ratings categories, we're seeing open-source databases meeting or exceeding proprietary databases."
Evans said MySQL popularity comes in part through its starring role in the "LAMP stack" of software often used in combination--the Linux operating system, the Apache Web server, MySQL database and the PHP scripting language.
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
