Open Source Software and MySQL

Open source software is software for which the underlying code has been made available for users. Users are then able to read it or change it as they wish. In a business setting, use of open source software is expanding and the advantages and disadvantages are considered here.

At first glance, the most obvious advantage is the cost benefits of open sourcing. Open-source free software is comprised of open-source codes and is available for use in program applications. This code can be developed and upgraded by anyone or company and has no intellectual property rights given to any person or company. This software offers the freedom to modify and use software programs within established standards and guidelines, so the software remains "free" for all users (Walker 2006). It is not always the case that such software will be completely free of charge, MySQL began charging for services in 2005, but in almost all cases it is far cheaper than closed source proprietary software. This factor alone makes open source software extremely beneficial to businesses looking to cut costs, particularly smaller or younger companies who are more vulnerable. Open sourcing will provide the essential software programs which these companies need to set up and survive. They may also be able to make use of a high quality range of software which they could otherwise not afford.

The first enterprise wide users of MySQL were internet-enabled start up companies which turned to free open source software stacks such as LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP/Perl/Python) to get their business off the ground.

Indeed, it can be argued that open source software is of a higher quality than closed because it is subject to constant peer review. Closed source software proprietors are able to disguise or hide any flaws and/or issues with their software since they do not release the source coded and therefore have complete control of the product. A major benefit is that more individuals, i.e., programmers, quality control technicians, etc., have access to the software source codes. This allows for the ability to expedite and increase the software enhancements at a potentially much greater rate than proprietary programs (i.e., the ability to view source code, fix bugs, improve and adapt applications, etc.) (Walker 2006).

MySQL’s version 5.0 incorporated so many advanced requests from enterprise users that its feature sets were comparable to the big three closed source software providers of Oracle, IBM and Microsoft.

This, coupled with the fact that open source software is highly customisable makes it become a more attractive option for many businesses. This software offers the freedom to modify and use software programs within established standards and guidelines which means that users can adapt the software so that it can better meet the individual needs of the business. For example, Yahoo uses open-source software and development tools to build and support the services that customers have come to love about the company, such as E-mail, music, and search. About a dozen of Yahoo's Web-page templating systems were designed using the PHP programming language and help define how Web pages will look. "There aren't a lot of commercial products out there that meet our needs, so over the past few years open source has become the technology we consider when there's something we need," says Jeremy Zawodny, a member of Yahoo's technology development team (Greenemeier 2005).

Yahoo was one of the start-up companies which adopted MySQL’s open source software along with Google and Travelocity. The ability to modify parts of the underlying software allowed them to differentiate themselves in their own markets.

However, the implementation of open source software may not be suitable for all types of business. Boye (2006) warns that “the later you begin to test performance, the more expensive and painful it tends to become in practice” meaning that companies should be sure that the open source software which they are implementing will meet their needs as it can be difficult to backtrack. His basis is that many enterprises try to stretch their open source package to fit other use cases, such as an ebusiness portal or enterprise intranet whereas open source software works best for simpler forms of dynamic web publishing. The makers of the market leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) software SAP found the functions of MySQL’s software to be insufficient to meet the database needs of its applications.

Another disadvantage of open source software is that it is non-commercial and providers such as MySQL are unable to compete with the providers of closed source software such as Oracle, IBM and Microsoft. Oracle’s CEO Larry Ellison reinforces this point when he says “…I think the revenues from MySQL are between $30 million and $40 million. Oracle’s revenue next year is $15 billion.” This means that companies like MySQL are vulnerable. To look after its own interests Oracle had to respond to the growing popularity of MySQL open source software. In an aggressive manoeuvre they acquired the Finnish four-person outfit Innobase. Innobase exclusively provided a key input component (transactional engine) for MySQL. This component was used by 30-40% of MySQL customers including Travelocity. If the production of this component was then discontinued by Oracle then this can seriously harm MySQL’S business and therefore the businesses of those using MySQL’s open source software.

In the end, Oracle did not discontinue production but this is the sort of situation businesses leave themselves vulnerable to when operating open source software.


REFERENCES


Boye 2006
Open Source Portals: Frustration & Promise
EContent. Wilton: Vol. 29, Iss. 6; p. 38 (5 pages)

Greenemeier. 2005
Open Source Goes CORPORATE
InformationWeek. Manhasset: p. 38 (7 pages)

Walker 2006
OPEN-SOURCE FREE SOFTWARE: Benefits, features, and Uses
Contract Management. McLean: Vol. 46, Iss. 7; p. 18 (6 pages)