MySQL fills Oracle-consumed hole in database

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Compared to database heavyweight Oracle, MySQL is very small--it brought in a little less than $40 million of revenue in 2005--but it is the most popular open-source database with developers, according to market research firm Evans Data.

Open-source databases, in general, are not as sophisticated as Oracle's flagship database product, but the company is seeing more competition from open-source companies such as MySQL, Ingres and EnterpriseDB.

Like other database companies, Oracle has reacted to the interest in open-source products, which proponents argue can be cheaper than established products.

In February, Oracle released a free version of its database that limits the hardware on which it can run. It also tried to buy MySQL but was rebuffed.

Encouraging plug-ins
The storage engine MySQL is working on will be available this year. The engine derives from MySQL's acquisition of Netfrastructure, which employed database luminary Jim Starkey and other engineers.

"What we didn't tell people when we bought Netfrastructure is that we were getting more than just people. We were also getting software," Mickos said.

At the company's customer conference later this month, MySQL executives will further detail its strategy for storage engines.

The company will disclose partners that are writing their own storage engines for MySQL and further detail its "plug-in" architecture for storage engines, said Zack Urlocker, MySQL vice president of marketing.

The purpose of having different storage mechanisms is to specialize. For example, a third party could create a way to index text documents very well and gain access to MySQL developers.

Separately, Mickos said the company could in the future file for an initial public offering to provide an "exit for its investors" but also said there are no imminent plans. The company raised a third, $18.5 million round in February of this year.

"We want to remain independent," he said.

[Johnny Mnemonic]

Refreshing

It's rather refreshing to hear a CEO talk about
staying independent and not go the easy route of
other companies and cashing in.

[Johnny Mnemonic]

Refreshing

It's rather refreshing to hear a CEO talk about
staying independent and not go the easy route of
other companies and cashing in.