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Several of the new features, such as support for vectors and functions stored in JavaScript, are exclusive to the paid version of Oracle HeatWave. This has raised doubts, raising doubts about Oracle's true intentions towards the Community Edition of MySQL, which risks becoming less competitive.
Some bugs, reported from the beginning, further complicate the situation. Jean-François Gagné of Aiven highlighted a critical bug that causes the MySQL daemon to crash when creating many tables. At the same time, Percona's Peter Zaitsev expressed concerns about the lack of new features, suggesting that Oracle may favor its proprietary analytical database, HeatWave.
Carl Olofson, vice president of IDC, defended Oracle by arguing that certain innovations are not compatible with Community Edition and that HeatWave requires infrastructure managed by Oracle. However, such explanations did not allay everyone's doubts.
Moving on to other new features in MySQL 9.0, we note the introduction of the VECTOR column type and JavaScript stored procedures, which have significant limitations: VECTOR columns, for example, cannot be used as keys and are not supported by many functions of MySQL. Furthermore, the discontinuation of the MySQL Native Password plugin compromises compatibility with older PHP applications.
Performance improvements
- Query optimization: MySQL 9.0 introduced significant improvements to the query compiler, including new algorithms for reorganizing joins and choosing the most efficient execution plans. This can result in reduced execution time for complex queries, especially in large databases with multiple joins.
- Memory Management: Memory management has been improved through the introduction of more efficient algorithms for managing the buffer pool. This allows MySQL to better manage system resources in high-load environments, reducing the risk of performance degradation during peak usage.
- Modern Hardware Support: MySQL 9.0 better leverages the capabilities of modern hardware, such as multi-core processors and high-speed memory architectures, to improve the throughput and scalability of database operations.
Security and Compliance
- Complete Database Encryption: One of the most relevant features in the paid editions is the complete encryption of the database, which guarantees the security of the data at rest. This feature is essential for businesses that must comply with rigorous security and privacy standards, such as GDPR.
- Query Security Improvements: Improvements to query sanitization features have been introduced to prevent SQL injections, one of the most common security issues in databases. These improvements help make applications more secure against external attacks.
Usability and Maintenance
- Advanced Diagnostic Tools: Diagnostic tools have been enhanced to provide more detailed and in-depth analysis of database health, making maintenance and troubleshooting easier. However, many of these advanced features are only available in Enterprise versions.
- Improved Management Interface: The database management user interface has been improved to be more intuitive and accessible, allowing administrators to perform routine operations more easily and quickly.
General dissatisfaction with MySQL 9.0 revives the debate on the thin line between the commercial version and the Community Edition. Although many companies offer a free version of their main product, the latter usually remains adequate to satisfy various needs, guaranteeing the basic functions. This time, however, Oracle seems to have taken a different approach, potentially alienating for developers.
The community expected a stronger commitment from Oracle to keep MySQL at the forefront of open source; however, the priority given to paid features has generated a feeling of abandonment among the developers of the Community version.
