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].