Oracle loses some MySQL mojo

Ken Jacobs

(Credit: Oracle)

Ever since Oracle closed on its acquisition of MySQL, the open-source world has been wondering where the code has gone. Many people searched, fruitlessly, for the formerly available MySQL source code.

They might have done better to search for Oracle's point person on MySQL, Ken Jacobs.

On Friday, Jacobs announced his resignation from Oracle to key members of the MySQL team via e-mail. Jacobs, a 28-year Oracle veteran and one of its first 20 hires, has been Oracle's liaison with the MySQL community for the past several years, ever since Oracle acquired the popular MySQL storage engine, InnoDB.

While Jacobs doesn't give an explicit reason for his departure, he does hint at disappointment that he was not selected to run MySQL's database business post-acquisition. "I imagine you all know that I will not be leading the MySQL GBU, as I had expected," he said.

I share that disappointment.

I, among others, worried that Oracle's acquisition of InnoDB effectively amounted to a hostile takeover of MySQL's financial fortunes, but such has not been the case. Arguably, Jacobs is a primary reason that Oracle's ownership of InnoDB has been peaceful, not a declaration of war.

I don't expect Jacobs' departure to significantly alter Oracle's plans for MySQL, which I believe to be good (the temporary absence of source code notwithstanding), but I do worry that his thoughtful interaction with the open-source community will be missed.

Jacobs, himself, in his departure e-mail, noted the benefits MySQL will receive from Oracle's ownership:

I know that there are many people in the open source community who are concerned about Oracle's plans for MySQL. They are wrong to worry. Oracle will keep its commitments to invest in MySQL, and help grow the business. Oracle will make MySQL better. Doing so gives Oracle a presence in new markets, and the resources and investment Oracle will make should mean great things for customers, as well as the larger community.

You will find Oracle a terrific place to work! I believe it is good for MySQL (the product, the company, the people and the community) that you are now part of a software company. And a database company. And a company that is profitable, and that innovates and delivers high customer satisfaction. That's where MySQL belongs!

Edward Screven, Oracle's chief corporate architect, will be overseeing all-things-open-source at Oracle, leaving less room for Jacobs but also demonstrating Oracle's positive intentions for MySQL. Screven reports directly to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and should be a good advocate for MySQL within the company.

Even so, I will miss Jacobs. I have had many interactions with him over the years, and he has always proved to be a thoughtful, measured advocate for and defender of Oracle. His influence will be missed at Oracle as it takes on the arduous task of managing the world's largest database community.

[kbahey]

MySQL's source code is still available here http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/. In the Select Platform, choose "Source code", and then scroll down, and you will get a tarball.

Yes, it requires registration, and is not obvious, but

[Renegade Knight]

Glad I got money instead of Oracle stock out of the buyout.

[ZUrlocker]

The MySQL source code, documentation etc is where it's always been at http://dev.mysql.com (also http://www.mysql.org.) However, I believe Oracle is using an extremely conservative interpretation of revenue recognition rules and therefore does not want to have links to pre-release source code from the MySQL.com main site. I can't say that makes a lot of sense to me, but that's the reason.

--Zack

[marktime12]

Here's what they should worry about that Oracle's presence in the mySQL market, will give them contact numbers, to feed their hyper-aggressive, flat-out harassing sales force.

Technology people aren't used to thinking in those terms, but, its like having your own personal stalker, be prepared to change your phone numbers frequently.

[GlennAllen]

I don't like Oracle. I never have... ever since I had to deal with them. Their attitude is derived from Ellison... who's a butt. There are plenty of things Oracle can do with MySQL; "de-open sourcing" it, however, is not one of them. Well, there are other FLOSS databases to use.