Oracle and MySQL: It's all about Microsoft

Oracle is determined to keep MySQL if it acquires Sun, but the reason likely has little to do with open source and everything to do with Microsoft. Oracle doesn't compete with open source. Not really. Open source is simply a means to an end, and in the case of MySQL, a means to denting Microsoft's rising strength in emerging markets where Oracle's expensive database technology doesn't resonate.

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has said that he has no intention of spinning off MySQL to win EU approval of Oracle's bid for Sun. This isn't because Ellison has a soft spot for open source, but rather because MySQL helps Oracle compete in markets--like Web applications, small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and emerging markets--where its existing database technology doesn't compete well, but in which Microsoft's SQL Server does.

In fact, in a recent survey by Evans Data, over 50 percent of developers in the emerging markets of China, India, Eastern Europe, and Latin America use Microsoft's SQL Server, compared to 46 percent using MySQL.

Oracle database technology? It's used, but not nearly as extensively.

MySQL gives Oracle a club with which to beat Microsoft. It's not about open source. It's about the MySQL developer community and its competitive price point, two things that Microsoft also has going for it. Arguably, though, open source provides Oracle a strong competitive differentiator against Microsoft in these markets.

Even so, I think we'll eventually see open source aiding both sides in this battle, as Microsoft learns to drop its acrimonious stance toward open source and instead strategically embrace it, as IBM, Oracle, and others have done before it.

Oracle can't afford to abandon MySQL. It's the key to unlocking its ability to effectively compete with Microsoft in tomorrow's big markets.

[doubtthat]

I have a hard time believing that Oracle's purchase of MySql will do MySql any good. This is probably the beginning of the end for MySql.

[penguiniator]

How so? They can't lock up the code. Its original developer is forking it to continue development independently of Sun/Oracle. So, how will Oracle be able to kill it?

[kaiman75]

I sure hope not, or a lot of web hosts are going to be scrambling to find low cost/open source databases down the road.

[grgkstnz]

I really believe this is 100% accurate. Everyone who sees doom for MySQL is missing the big picture.

[t8]

Business is business.
If MySQL suffers then it will be forked.

If not, then things will continue.

Simple.

[SirWeej]

Maybe not so simple. I imagine that Ellison will modify the code to add features AND make it easy for developers to migrate to Oracle. So lets say he keeps it fairly simple and doesn't charge for it and developers make the slight modifications in their code. I imagine that Ellison at some point will be salivating at the 46% market share and eventually begin charging for the product.

[t8]

At which time developers will organise a fork or go with an already existing one.
Oracle know that MySQL will always have an expectation of free, and if that disappears then developers will move from the last free version (GPL code) and take it from there.

[pentest]

With the right libraries and some foresight in wrapping up problematic pieces, it is not a big deal moving to another DB.

What is a big deal is moving from free to the outrageous cost of Oracle.