Thoughts on the Fuss
Well, as I often do, I am going to weigh in on the topic du jour after pretty much everyone is done yelling about it. After evaluating what was said I believe I am going to offer something that is actually original. For background, in case you missed it, MySQL (the company) announced that they were going to charge for compression and encryption features of the new online backup that is coming in version 6.0.
This has raised quit the furor. I am not going to take the time track down all the posts about it, but there have been many. Just check out planetmysql.com if you want. Almost without exception the posts have been very negative.
Now that a little background has been laid out, let’s discuss. It is important to understand that this decision was made by MySQL AB management before the Sun acquisition. It is my understanding that this actually took Sun very much off guard. While Sun isn’t perfect, I do think that Jonathan Schwartz believes in the value of open source software and has every intention of keeping the MySQL server open source. It seems at this point that there is quite a difference in viewpoint between the upper management at MySQL and the people at Sun who are responsible for managing MySQL from here on out.
I think I know who is going to win in the long run in this little “battle” between Sun and MySQL. Sun paid a nice sum for MySQL and if I understand some basic business that means they are in charge. While with corporations of this size change takes time I am sure that Sun will be shaping MySQL somewhat “in its image”.
I doubt that this little scheme of charging for these features ever actually takes place. It is pretty much diametrically opposed to the what Sun says they want for MySQL. I think that by the time server version 6.0 is GA that every feature will be fully available for anyone. And that is why I have not taken the time to sharpen a pitchfork and join the mob. Because in the end I don’t think this will ever happen.
And cudos to Monty W. for leading chants of “We don’t ship crippleware” in his session on the future of MySQL at the conference.
Just my two cents.
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Monty makes all this money from the Sun acquisition, and pretends to be a free software advocate. How much did he make? How much is he giving back to the MySQL community?
I agree with you. Sun would not want to piss off the open source community. The same for rumors about Sun abondoning Linux and focusing only on Solaris with MySQL. That would just be stupid. And Sun is not stupid.
> It is important to understand that this decision was made by MySQL AB management before the Sun acquisition.
Please can you cite your source for this.
Franklin,
Grow up. Really.
Anon…I butchered the link somehow. I fixed it though. It is in the sentence right after the statement in question.
Anon, I can confirm that the decision on the business model around backup was made by MySQL AB prior to the acquisition and independently of Sun.
(And if you are interested, I have responded elsewhere, such as on Slashdot, on the reasoning behind this business model experiment. It is a serious experiment, but an experiment nevertheless.)
Marten
formerly CEO of MySQL AB, now SVP at Sun
Anon i quite agree with the concern you have put forward on the part that the business model for backup feature have been taken up by the mySQL before their acquisition but then one should not take it for granted that.. both of them are now a unique identity and should be take as a wide step towards going along open source globally..
But then it is also not any thing that it should not charged as they have to take on the issue of backup support and infrastructure management.. which needs a financial concerns…