Oracle promises new approach to MySQL • The Register

Oracle has promised a “decisive new strategy” to MySQL, the favored open supply database it owns, following rising criticism of its strategy and the prospect of a big fork within the code.

In a blog post revealed final week, Large Crimson, which acquired MySQL with Sun Microsystems in 2009, mentioned MySQL has new engineering management on the firm and “a transparent imaginative and prescient for 2026 and past.”

The transfer follows criticism of Oracle’s dedication to MySQL growth over the previous couple of years, which culminated in influential MySQL open supply neighborhood members and customers banding collectively to debate their choices, together with forking the code and exploring an impartial basis mannequin for governance.

Within the put up, Frederic Descamps, Oracle MySQL neighborhood supervisor, promised a brand new period of neighborhood engagement from the seller. He mentioned Oracle would take a three-pronged strategy, firstly by introducing developer-focused options into the open supply MySQL Group Version. He mentioned Large Crimson additionally deliberate to “prolong and enrich” the developer neighborhood by providing extra instruments, frameworks, and connectors for MySQL.

“Lastly, we’re rising transparency and inspiring broader neighborhood participation, making certain that extra voices assist information MySQL’s evolution,” he mentioned.

He added that extra particulars would change into out there in a public webinar. As a part of the brand new strategy, Oracle has dedicated to better transparency, answering one frequent grievance that it simply dumped new code with out a lot dialogue.

“We will likely be publishing the event roadmap and facilitating contributions from the neighborhood – together with worklogs and bug stories. There may be nice potential in community-driven extensibility, and we stay up for partnering instantly with these involved in constructing the following technology of MySQL instruments and extensions,” Descamps mentioned.

At a pre-FOSDEM MySQL and Pals occasion in Belgium final month, Oracle promised to take steps to “restore” its relationship with the MySQL neighborhood by transferring “commercial-only” options into the database utility’s Group Version and prioritizing developer wants. In response to a summary seen by The Register, the important thing options embrace vector capabilities, that are thought of vital for AI workloads.

Vadim Tkachenko beforehand labored for MySQL AB, the Swedish firm that developed the database earlier than it was purchased by Solar Microsystems. Now CTO at open supply consultancy Percona, he told us last month that MySQL was at a fork within the street underneath Oracle’s administration, with the developer neighborhood now having to decide on its future: both underneath Oracle or as a part of a special mannequin. A bunch of builders and customers met in San Francisco in January to debate their choices.

MySQL’s founding developer, Michael “Monty” Widenius, final yr mentioned he was “heartbroken” on listening to the information of job losses at Oracle’s MySQL engineering crew, whereas the system has seen a dramatic fall in the number of commits to the mission. ®