Core Viewpoint - MySQL, described as "the world's most popular open-source database," is facing an unprecedented development crisis, with a significant decline in code submissions and potential shifts in Oracle's focus towards proprietary products [1][3]. Group 1: Development Status - As of September 2025, the GitHub repository for MySQL Server has not seen any code submissions for over three months, coinciding with reports of layoffs within the MySQL team at Oracle [1]. - Since 2019, the volume of code submissions for MySQL has been declining annually, reaching its lowest point since the project's inception in 2000 in 2025 [1]. Group 2: Industry Insights - Percona's CEO stated that Oracle is "slowly killing the MySQL community edition," indicating a strategic shift towards proprietary versions like MySQL Enterprise Edition, Cluster Edition, and cloud-hosted Heatwave, which offer more direct revenue [3]. - Otto Kekäläinen, former CEO of the MariaDB Foundation, noted that MySQL is now only open-source in terms of licensing, suggesting developers should consider alternatives like MariaDB or PostgreSQL [3]. Group 3: Market Position - Despite its challenges, MySQL remains highly ranked in database popularity, holding the second position in DB Engines rankings and closely following PostgreSQL in the Stack Overflow developer survey [3]. - However, there is a consensus in the industry that if the stagnation of the open-source project continues, MySQL's market share will eventually be eroded by competitors [3].

Core Viewpoint - Oracle is undergoing significant layoffs, particularly affecting the MySQL core development team, raising concerns about the future of MySQL and its community support [4][7]. Group 1: Layoffs and Impact - On September 3, 2025, Oracle announced layoffs affecting thousands globally, with confirmed numbers including 101 in Washington and over 250 in California [2]. - The MySQL core development team was notably impacted, with approximately 70 members laid off [4]. - Michael Widenius, the creator of MySQL, expressed his heartbreak over the layoffs, indicating a troubling direction for MySQL under Oracle's management [4]. Group 2: MySQL History and Development - MySQL, an open-source relational database management system, was launched in 1995 by MySQL AB, founded by Michael Widenius, David Axmark, and Allan Larsson [4][6]. - In the early 2000s, many emerging internet companies, including Twitter and Facebook, built their infrastructure on MySQL [5]. - MySQL AB was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 2008, which was subsequently acquired by Oracle in 2010 [6]. Group 3: Concerns Over MySQL's Future - Despite initial positive management by Oracle, there are growing concerns about its commitment to maintaining MySQL, especially as resources shift towards Heatwave, a proprietary database service [7]. - Oracle's MySQL team has been integrated into the Heatwave department, with a focus on AI, leading to speculation about the potential decline of the open-source MySQL community version [8]. - MariaDB, a fork of MySQL created by Widenius in 2009 due to concerns over Oracle's acquisition, offers a fully compatible and enhanced alternative, promising to remain open-source [8].