Wow. I didn’t see that coming, but I suppose I didn’t watch all that carefully, either. MySQL AB is the company behind the exceedingly popular MySQL database engine, which powers this very blog and all other WordPress blogs, among practically millions of other websites and software (including the helpdesk application we use, HelpSpot). I’ve been using MySQL for database development for years and years, long before I ever hit the Church IT scene. I’ve used it on shared hosting account, dedicated servers, and on my own Windows machines and virtual servers. It rocks! It will be interesting to see what happens with Sun in charge. I’m cautiously optimistic. For years there were rumors that Oracle would buy MySQL and close them down to reduce competition. The announcement is called Helping Dolphins Fly over on a Sun blog (kudos to Matt Mullenweg for the link), and MySQL has the news posted themselves as well.