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Sun closing MYSQL source code, what could this mean?

Considering 80% of websites are driven by mysql.

"From the MySQL User's Conference, Sun has announced, and former CEO Marten Mickos has confirmed, that Sun will be close sourcing sections of the MySQL code base. Sun will begin with close sourcing the backup solutions to MySQL, and will continue with more advanced features. With Oracle owning Innodb, and it being GPL, does this mean that MySQL will be removing it to introduce these features? Sun has had a very poor history of actually open sourcing anything."

http://developers.slashdot.org/artic.../04/16/2337224

http://www.postgresql.org/

But apart from that:

Quote:

Thanks for all the comments on this. We are listening attentively. Let me clarify some facts:

* The business decision on this was made by MySQL AB (by me as the then CEO) prior to the acquisition by Sun, so this has nothing to do with Sun. On the contrary, Sun is more likely to influence this decision the other way.

* It is not a quesiton of close sourcing any existing code, nor anything in the core server. Everything we have released under GPL continues to be under GPL, and the core server will always be under GPL (or some other FOSS licence).

* We will introduce backup functionality for all users (Community and Enterprise) under GPL in version 6.0.

* Additionally we will develop high-end add-ons (such as encryption, native storage engine-specific drivers) that we will deliver to customers in the MySQL Enterprise product only. We have not yet decided under what licence we will release those add-ons (GPL, some other FOSS licence, and/or commercial).

* At all times, because the main backup functionality goes into the core server under GPL, anyone can of course use the api and build their own add-ons or other modifications.

Those are the facts on this. The interesting topic is of course the one of the business model and what the best business model for FOSS software is. I hope to cover that in a separate posting.

In all of this, you have our undivided continued commitment to providing a fantastic and complete MySQL server under GPL for anyone to download and use. If we for whatever reason would not do that, we would risk losing users to other open source databases or risk seeing a fork of our own product. This is the power of open source.

Make sense?

Marten
previously CEO of MySQL, now SVP at Sun

I read that too yesterday and had the same thought.

Sun most likely wants to strengthen it's dominance in the enterprise market. MySQL is quickly becoming the new Oracle and as such this is most likely Sun's strategy for getting back in the game.

It seems like only the new functionality will be closed.

MySQL 5 is a solid product and doubt there will be need for the new features for the majority of users out there.

Java was closed source and yet it was still free. Quite a good product as well.

Sun has a history of giving away the lower end stuff for free and only charging large enterprise companies. The company is not set up to service small businesses.

My first reaction was that of concern, but then thinking about it more I think it is for the better.

Worse case scenario, someone forks the current GPL version of MySQL and parallels the closed development Sun will be doing / charging for.

Personally I'm sick of RDBMS and can't wait for a serious ODBMS to come out.