[Koha] Difference Between MariaDB and MySQL

Mon Dec 16 20:22:30 NZDT 2019

Interesting to have this conversation come up at this time,

We've been fighting recently to maintain compatability with both MySQL and
MariaDB as in recent times they have started to diverge.

On a personal note, I don't feel agnosticism is the best route, I'd like to
see us pick a DB as a community and then advocate using that database to
its fullest potential. Being agnostic, both in vendor and version, means
were stuck with a pretty low bar for our lowest common denominator in code
(or we introduce vendor and version specific code paths for each dB we
support and give ourselves an additional maintainence challenge). We can't
currently implement some types of constraints and as such risk data
integrity in places, we can rely on JSON or XML features for performance
boost.. just a couple of examples of where we are missing out.

As for the debate between the three big contenders, MySQL, MariaDB and
Postgres.. I feel MariaDB has already won to some extent in the Koha
codebase, and is the obvious choice. I have worked with Postgres and love
it, but I'm not sure how close we are to being able to support it in Koha
at this time.. my experience is that it's considerably stricter and we use
our SQL schema in some 'interesting' ways.

All good food for thought and an interesting conversation to have rolling.

Martin

On Sun, 15 Dec 2019, 10:09 pm Carlos Lopez, <clopez at dml.vic.edu.au> wrote:

> Related question:
>
> Is anyone working on porting the Koha database structure (and codebase) to
> Postgresql? (because of course everyone has unlimited time and energy)
>
> With kind regards from the Dalton McCaughey Library Team
>
> Carlos Lopez
>
> Dalton McCaughey Library | 29 College Crescent, Parkville, VICTORIA 3052
> Ph: 03 9340 8888 ext.1 | library at dml.vic.edu.au | library.dmlibrary.org.au
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Koha <koha-bounces at lists.katipo.co.nz> On Behalf Of Coehoorn, Joel
> Sent: Saturday, 14 December 2019 2:49 PM
> To: Charles Kelley <cmkelleymls at gmail.com>
> Cc: Discussion Group Koha <koha at lists.katipo.co.nz>
> Subject: Re: [Koha] Difference Between MariaDB and MySQL
>
> There's some fun history here.
>
> MariaDB was created when Oracle bought out Sun Microsystems in January
> 2010. Sun had owned the MySql DB project, but since the project was open
> source that's not the same as full ownership of the code itself. Oracle
> doesn't exactly have the best reputation as a good steward for open source
> projects, so when the acquisition was announced several prominent MySql
> contributors started their own project based on the then-current MySql
> code. The express purpose of the project is to ensure a MySql-compatible
> database remains available should Oracle start to behave poorly.
>
> So, then, the whole point of the MariaDB project is that it should be
> compatible with MySql.
>
> Additionally, the licensing used with MariaDB is seen as a little better
> (more permissive for end users, while also safer for the "pure" open source
> projects like Debian).
>
> As for the Oracle situation, MariaDB has been partially successful. The
> existence of the project has effectively prevented Oracle from closing off
> MySql code in favor or their prior Oracle Database (the pricing model for
> which would shock you -- they have customers who pay over $100,000 for a
> single instance). However, it has not stopped Oracle from allowing the
> project to become stagnant. MySql (and MariaDB) have until recently lacked
> *many* modern database features: CTEs, recursive queries, lateral joins,
> windowing functions, transaction DDL, correct/ansi NULL handling by
> default... I could go on and on and on. Sql Server, Postgresql, and Oracle
> have all had all of those features for over a decade.
>
> Really, **no one** should have started new projects with MySql (or MariaDB)
> from around 2012 -- when it was clear MySql had fallen far behind and
> wasn't progressing -- through April of 2018, when MySql 8.0 finally went
> GA. Today, MySql is (thankfully) finally advancing as a project again, but
> it still has some catch-up to do, and given a choice I'd much prefer to be
> using Postgresql in Koha.
>
> Joel Coehoorn
> Director of Information Technology
> 402.363.5603
> *jcoehoorn at york.edu <jcoehoorn at york.edu>*
>
> *Please contact helpdesk at york.edu <helpdesk at york.edu> for technical
> assistance.*
>
>
> The mission of York College is to transform lives through
> Christ-centered education and to equip students for lifelong service to
> God, family, and society
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 12, 2019 at 12:15 AM Charles Kelley <cmkelleymls at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi, all!
> >
> >     Is there a difference between MariaDB and MySQL in the working
> > environment of Koha?
> >
> >     Thanks for your input.
> >
> > --
> >     -- Charles.
> >
> >     Charles Kelley, MLS
> >     PSC 704 Box 1029
> >     APO AP 96338
> >
> >     Charles Kelley
> >     1-5-2 Tsukimino #210
> >     Yamato-shi, Kanagawa-ken, 〒242-0002
> >     JAPAN
> >
> >     1-301-741-7122 [US cell]
> >     011-81-80-4714-5490 [JPN cell]
> >
> >     mnogojazyk at aol.com [h]
> >     cmkelleymls at gmail.com [p]
> >
> >     linkedin.com/in/cmkelleymls <http://www.linkedin.com/in/cmkelleymls>
> >     Meeting Your Information Needs. Virtually.
> > _______________________________________________
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