The rumors are that Oracle, the global database giant, is making plans to distrubute its own version of the MySQL open source database. MySQL executives have been made aware of a proposed "Unbreakable MySQL" program to be run in the same lines with Oracles Red Hat Linux distribution.

This is the third notable attempt from Oracle to aquire a piece of the small and agile database market. The first was a purchase attempt that apparently was abandoned. The second strike came with the purchase of the company which owns the patents to Innodb. Innodb is a database engine used in MySQL that is becoming increasingly popular. The release of MySQL 5 with features that depend much on this engine made the aquisition a serious threat. This resulted in MySQL going into research to create an open source alternative in case things got nasty. The third strike is the possible coming of "Unbreakable MySQL". Though MySQL big wigs do not see it as a threat but more of a thumbs up from Oracle for their database system.

The question is should web developers be worried? A move like this could start confusing the web database world. Oracle may decided to add in features and functions available only in their distribution. This may disturb the quiet balance of SQL standardization that the database community has enjoyed. In the past years ANSI SQL 99 has been adhered to with ANSI SQL 92 being the default goal in database design and development. No one has seen the need or tried to go outside of the standards. But in an effort to be different and more appealing in a very competative market Oracle may "tweak" MySQL.

I don't know about you but I find the present MySQL situation very pleasant and don't want it to be poisoned by any "conveniences". But I do like the fact that open source may be about to get another sign of acceptance from the corporate world when Oracle places its stamp of approval on MySQL.
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