The Evolution and Comparison of MySQL and MariaDB: Which One to Choose?

Both MySQL and MariaDB have a rich history rooted in open-source development and have been instrumental in the growth of web technologies. Originally developed by Michael Widenius, these databases were central to the LAMP stack, which powered many web applications. However, their paths diverged significantly post-2009, when Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems, the former owner of MySQL.

Origins and Early Development

Development: MySQL was initially owned by Michael Widenius, named for his daughter My. The original open-source version of MySQL was kept by Sun Microsystems, which eventually sold MySQL to Oracle. This acquisition marked a turning point for the database, as Oracle started to divest itself of its open-source assets.

The Open Source Transition: The acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle led to the transition of several key open-source projects. For instance, OpenSolaris was reborn as OpenIndiana, and OpenOffice was forked by Apache to become LibreOffice. The Linux distribution community also embraced LibreOffice, and OpenOffice was largely replaced.

MySQL's Uncertain Future: Following the acquisition, MySQL’s future became uncertain. Its role in Oracle’s overall product strategy was unclear, and there were concerns about Oracle’s management of the open-source community. As a result, many of the original MySQL developers moved to MariaDB, led by Michael Widenius.

Birth of MariaDB

MariaDB Fork: In response to Oracle's acquisition of MySQL, Michael Widenius took the open-source version of MySQL and created a new database called MariaDB, named after his other daughter. The aim was to retain compatibility with MySQL while adding new features.

Compatibility and Divergence: For several years, the two databases remained highly similar, making it difficult to identify differences without in-depth knowledge. However, as time passed, both MySQL and MariaDB evolved rapidly, diverging in their development paths.

Current Status and Divergence

In recent years, both MySQL and MariaDB have seen significant changes and have taken different development approaches. It's no longer accurate to say that their code bases remain highly similar. Instead, their differences have become more pronounced.

The Rate of Change: Both databases have seen accelerated development, with MySQL being acquired by Oracle and facing operational challenges related to Oracle's broader strategy. MariaDB, on the other hand, has remained independently developed and has continued to innovate without these constraints.

Feature Compatibility: While both databases share a large set of common features, there are also distinct differences. For instance, MariaDB has added advanced features for Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which MySQL has not yet adopted. This means that applications requiring GIS functionalities would naturally lean towards MariaDB.

Choosing Between MySQL and MariaDB

As of now, selecting between MySQL and MariaDB depends on the specific needs of your project. If you are working on a project that requires support from major cloud providers, such as Azure, you may find that MySQL is more widely supported. For example, Azure offers a managed MySQL service but not a managed MariaDB service.

Common Features: If your application primarily relies on common features, the decision comes down to which database is available in your target environment. For example, if you are working within environments where macOS or Linux are predominantly used, both databases can be easily supported with the same code base.

Advanced Features: If your project requires advanced features like GIS support, the choice will be more straightforward. MariaDB would be the better choice due to its specialized features in this domain.

Conclusion: In summary, while MySQL and MariaDB share many similarities, their divergent development paths and unique features make them suitable for different scenarios. The choice ultimately depends on the specific features your project requires and the environment in which it will run.