Sun will not withhold or close-source any features that would make the MySQL community server less functional for users, media reported Tuesday.
At the center of the controversy were reports of plans to close-source backup features in Version 6.0 of the MySQL database, making them available only to subscription-paying users of its enterprise version. In an effort to clear the air, Marten Mickos, senior vice president of Sun's Database Group, responded to blog posts on Slashdot and elsewhere.
The core backup functionality and a backup API in Version 6.0 will be available to users of both the community and enterprise versions of the database, he said. However, the company plans to develop high-end add-ons such as encryption and compression solely for its MySQL Enterprise subscription customers, Mickos said.
“It is not a question of close-sourcing any existing code, nor anything in the core server,” Mickos said. “Everything MySQL has released under the GPL license continues to be under GPL, and the core MySQL server will always be under GPL, or some other free and open-source software [FOSS] license.”
Mickos said it has not been decided yet what license the add-ons will be released under. Sun, he added, was not part of the initial plans regarding the backup functionality—those discussions were taking place well before the acquisition by Sun earlier this year.
“At all times, because the main backup functionality goes into the core server under GPL, anyone can use the API and build their own add-ons or other modifications,” he said. “We are also offering them a convenient, low-cost option through our add-ons, but not forcing them or restricting them from building their own.”
Source:Xinhua/Agencies Author：china business Time：2008-05-24 From：china daily
