0.06 History of MySQL
MySQL is one of the most widely used relational database management systems (RDBMS) in the world.
Its history is intertwined with the growth of the internet and open-source software.
Here’s a brief overview of MySQL's history:
1. Early Development (1994 - 1995)
MySQL was created by Michael "Monty" Widenius, Allan Larsson, and David Axmark in 1994. The project began as a response to the limitations of other database systems at the time, which were expensive and not very flexible for smaller businesses and developers. The initial goal was to build a fast and reliable database system that would be easy to use and scale well.
2. MySQL AB (1995 - 2001)
In 1995, Monty, Allan, and David officially founded MySQL AB, a company focused on the development and support of MySQL. The software was released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), making it open-source. This was key to MySQL’s widespread adoption in the open-source community.
1996: MySQL 3.11 was released, and it gained popularity for its speed and reliability, especially in comparison to other open-source database systems like PostgreSQL.
1999: MySQL became one of the first open-source databases to receive substantial venture capital funding, which helped to scale its development.
3. Growth and Popularity (2001 - 2008)
During the early 2000s, MySQL started gaining significant traction, especially with the rise of LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python) stack as the go-to framework for developing dynamic web applications.
2001: MySQL AB launched MySQL 4.0, introducing key features such as support for transactions, subqueries, and foreign keys.
2003: MySQL 4.1 was released, which introduced character set support and more advanced features.
2005: MySQL AB released MySQL 5.0, which added crucial features like stored procedures, triggers, and views, bringing it closer to the functionality of more enterprise-focused databases like Oracle and SQL Server.
4. Acquisition by Sun Microsystems (2008)
In 2008, Sun Microsystems acquired MySQL AB for approximately $1 billion. This acquisition was seen as a major step for both Sun Microsystems and MySQL, as it allowed MySQL to scale in enterprise environments and better compete with large RDBMS vendors like Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.
5. Oracle Acquires Sun Microsystems (2009)
In 2009, Oracle Corporation acquired Sun Microsystems, which led to Oracle gaining ownership of MySQL. This acquisition raised concerns in the open-source community about the future of MySQL, as Oracle is a competitor to MySQL in the database space. Some feared that Oracle might limit MySQL's development or change its licensing.
MySQL 5.1: Oracle continued development of MySQL, releasing MySQL 5.1 with improvements in performance, partitioning, and replication.
MySQL 5.5: This version, released in 2010, brought in support for InnoDB as the default storage engine, making MySQL more reliable and robust for enterprise use.
6. Forking and MariaDB (2009 - Present)
In response to concerns about MySQL’s future under Oracle’s ownership, Monty Widenius and other original MySQL developers created a fork of MySQL called MariaDB in 2009. MariaDB is fully compatible with MySQL but includes additional features and improvements. MariaDB has gained traction as a popular alternative to MySQL, especially for users who prioritize open-source development.
Since its release, MariaDB has been actively developed, with features like improved performance, storage engines, and new optimizations that aren’t always available in MySQL.
7. Recent Developments and MySQL Today (2010 - Present)
Since the Oracle acquisition, MySQL has continued to evolve with regular releases and has become more integrated with Oracle's other products and services. Notably:
MySQL 5.6 and 5.7 (2013-2015): These versions introduced further performance improvements, enhanced replication, and better support for NoSQL-style operations.
MySQL 8.0 (2018): The major release of MySQL 8.0 brought in several key features such as support for window functions, common table expressions (CTEs), and JSON support, making it a much more feature-rich RDBMS compared to its predecessors.
Today, MySQL remains a cornerstone of the open-source database world, often used in web applications, content management systems like WordPress, and cloud environments. It is maintained by Oracle but continues to have strong community support.
Key Milestones:
1995: MySQL is created.
2001: MySQL AB launches MySQL 4.0.
2003: MySQL 4.1 released.
2005: MySQL 5.0 released, adding stored procedures and triggers.
2008: Acquired by Sun Microsystems.
2009: Oracle acquires Sun Microsystems, and MySQL is now owned by Oracle.
2010: MySQL 5.5 released, with InnoDB as default storage engine.
2018: MySQL 8.0 released, introducing modern features like window functions, CTEs, and JSON support.
Conclusion
MySQL’s journey has been marked by growth, acquisition, and competition. Despite its challenges, it has remained one of the most popular and reliable open-source databases in use today. It has found its place in both small-scale applications and large enterprise environments, making it a crucial part of the database landscape.