Dear Oracle, we need to talk about the future of MySQL
(2026/02/17)
- Reference: 1771346962
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/02/17/mysql_foundation_oracle_letter/
- Source link:
A group of influential users and developers of MySQL have invited Oracle to join their plans to create an independent foundation to guide the future development of the popular open source database, which Big Red owns.
The group aims to establish a nonprofit foundation to support the MySQL community and wants Oracle to help form the plans as the owner of the MySQL software and trademark.
A number of companies that support and develop systems based on MySQL are supporting the initiative. The [1]open letter to Oracle inviting it to take part in plans to create an independent foundation to govern MySQL has attracted around 100 signatures at the time of writing.
[2]
The group sees the plan as the best way to address a number of challenges facing MySQL, [3]which became popular among internet startups in the early 2000s . MySQL was part of the LAMP stack commonly used for internet services at the time.
[4]
[5]
However, some users and developers are concerned about its future. The group representing them has signed a document setting out the challenges MySQL now faces. They include the declining popularity and market share of MySQL as new projects and younger developers are more likely to use PostgreSQL. As such, it has become difficult to attract new developers to MySQL, they argue.
Under Oracle's management, MySQL's development lacks transparency and largely takes place behind closed doors through private code drops, "with limited visibility into the roadmap or decision-making," the group letter said.
[6]
At the same time, security-related bugs are now publicly tracked, "leaving users unable to verify whether known issues affect them." The letter said many developers suspected Oracle was prioritizing proprietary enterprise features and HeatWave over the community edition.
Next, it is difficult for the user community to contribute code. Although technically possible, the process is opaque and frustrating. The group also argued that MySQL lacks features that should be standard on a modern database, such as vector search often used to support AI applications. Lastly, the group was concerned that the developers behind MySQL were getting older and too few new developers, students, and professionals were coming on board.
"To address these systemic issues, we propose the formation of a vendor-neutral, nonprofit foundation. This entity would serve as a shared home for the ecosystem, independent of any single company's commercial interests. A foundation isn't just paperwork; it is a practical, proven structure to fix the issues above," the statement said.
[7]
Vadim Tkachenko previously worked for MySQL AB, the Swedish company that developed the database before it was bought by Sun Microsystems, later acquired by Oracle. Also CTO at open source consultancy Percona, he is speaking for the developers and users behind the open letter.
Tkachenko told The Register that the community wanted to give Oracle time to consider whether to take part in the initiative, setting a deadline of the end of March. If the group has heard little of note from the tech giant by that time, it may move ahead without the vendor.
"We need to give Oracle some space," he said. "If Oracle give us a signal that they want to work together, then it is not a strict deadline, but if we just hear nothing from Oracle, then I don't think we have the luxury of time to wait significantly longer again, because of the risk of falling into irrelevance is getting greater every quarter."
[8]Oracle vows 'new era' for MySQL as users sharpen their forks
[9]Oracle seeks to build bridges with MySQL developers
[10]As Oracle loses interest in MySQL, devs mull future options
[11]Monty Widenius 'heartbroken' at the extent of Oracle's MySQL job cuts
Last week, [12]Oracle promised a "decisive new approach" to MySQL . Big Red, which acquired MySQL with Sun Microsystems in 2009, said MySQL has new engineering leadership at the company and "a clear vision for 2026 and beyond."
In [13]the post , Frederic Descamps, Oracle MySQL community manager, promised a new era of community engagement from the vendor. He said Oracle would take a three-pronged approach, firstly by introducing developer-focused features into the open source MySQL Community Edition. He said Big Red also planned to "extend and enrich" the developer community by offering more tools, frameworks, and connectors for MySQL.
However, Tkachenko said the Oracle MySQL team is "in chaos right now." Descamps has since announced his departure to become [14]community manager for the MariaDB Foundation , itself based around a fork of MySQL. Meanwhile, Oracle has not appointed a vice president to head up MySQL development, he claimed.
Oracle has been offered the opportunity to comment.
Percona co-founder and MySQL performance expert Peter Zaitsev, who also signed the letter, said news of the shift from Oracle had not been enough to stop the group setting its own timetable.
"We need to understand what Oracle will actually be able to execute. We believe, especially in this case, when Oracle makes these promises, there should be an independent organization of MySQL users to keep Oracle accountable. We have to have somebody who can speak in a single voice and say, 'Oracle, you did this, you didn't deliver, and that is not OK, right?'"
He added that the group wanted to see a wide group of companies invited into the MySQL development community.
"If you go to mysql.com, you find nothing which is not Oracle. This is very different from something like PostgreSQL, where you come and you see all the PostgreSQL vendors out there having an even playing field. In modern open source, if you're doing something great in the MySQL space, you should have a vehicle to get it out there," he said.
MySQL's founding developer, Michael "Monty" Widenius, last year said he was "heartbroken" on hearing the [15]news of job losses at Oracle's MySQL engineering team , while the system has seen a [16]dramatic fall in the number of commits to the project.
The coming months will show if Oracle has an answer for those who want to reverse the trend. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://letter.3306-db.org/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/06/30_years_mysql/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
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[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/16/oracle_new_era_mysql/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/30/oracle_mysql/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/23/mysql_post_oracle/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/11/oracle_slammed_for_mysql_job/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/16/oracle_new_era_mysql
[13] https://blogs.oracle.com/mysql/new-era-of-mysql-community-engagement
[14] https://lefred.be/content/i-joined-the-mariadb-foundation/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/11/oracle_slammed_for_mysql_job/
[16] https://devclass.com/2026/01/13/open-source-mysql-repository-has-no-commits-in-more-than-three-months/
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The group aims to establish a nonprofit foundation to support the MySQL community and wants Oracle to help form the plans as the owner of the MySQL software and trademark.
A number of companies that support and develop systems based on MySQL are supporting the initiative. The [1]open letter to Oracle inviting it to take part in plans to create an independent foundation to govern MySQL has attracted around 100 signatures at the time of writing.
[2]
The group sees the plan as the best way to address a number of challenges facing MySQL, [3]which became popular among internet startups in the early 2000s . MySQL was part of the LAMP stack commonly used for internet services at the time.
[4]
[5]
However, some users and developers are concerned about its future. The group representing them has signed a document setting out the challenges MySQL now faces. They include the declining popularity and market share of MySQL as new projects and younger developers are more likely to use PostgreSQL. As such, it has become difficult to attract new developers to MySQL, they argue.
Under Oracle's management, MySQL's development lacks transparency and largely takes place behind closed doors through private code drops, "with limited visibility into the roadmap or decision-making," the group letter said.
[6]
At the same time, security-related bugs are now publicly tracked, "leaving users unable to verify whether known issues affect them." The letter said many developers suspected Oracle was prioritizing proprietary enterprise features and HeatWave over the community edition.
Next, it is difficult for the user community to contribute code. Although technically possible, the process is opaque and frustrating. The group also argued that MySQL lacks features that should be standard on a modern database, such as vector search often used to support AI applications. Lastly, the group was concerned that the developers behind MySQL were getting older and too few new developers, students, and professionals were coming on board.
"To address these systemic issues, we propose the formation of a vendor-neutral, nonprofit foundation. This entity would serve as a shared home for the ecosystem, independent of any single company's commercial interests. A foundation isn't just paperwork; it is a practical, proven structure to fix the issues above," the statement said.
[7]
Vadim Tkachenko previously worked for MySQL AB, the Swedish company that developed the database before it was bought by Sun Microsystems, later acquired by Oracle. Also CTO at open source consultancy Percona, he is speaking for the developers and users behind the open letter.
Tkachenko told The Register that the community wanted to give Oracle time to consider whether to take part in the initiative, setting a deadline of the end of March. If the group has heard little of note from the tech giant by that time, it may move ahead without the vendor.
"We need to give Oracle some space," he said. "If Oracle give us a signal that they want to work together, then it is not a strict deadline, but if we just hear nothing from Oracle, then I don't think we have the luxury of time to wait significantly longer again, because of the risk of falling into irrelevance is getting greater every quarter."
[8]Oracle vows 'new era' for MySQL as users sharpen their forks
[9]Oracle seeks to build bridges with MySQL developers
[10]As Oracle loses interest in MySQL, devs mull future options
[11]Monty Widenius 'heartbroken' at the extent of Oracle's MySQL job cuts
Last week, [12]Oracle promised a "decisive new approach" to MySQL . Big Red, which acquired MySQL with Sun Microsystems in 2009, said MySQL has new engineering leadership at the company and "a clear vision for 2026 and beyond."
In [13]the post , Frederic Descamps, Oracle MySQL community manager, promised a new era of community engagement from the vendor. He said Oracle would take a three-pronged approach, firstly by introducing developer-focused features into the open source MySQL Community Edition. He said Big Red also planned to "extend and enrich" the developer community by offering more tools, frameworks, and connectors for MySQL.
However, Tkachenko said the Oracle MySQL team is "in chaos right now." Descamps has since announced his departure to become [14]community manager for the MariaDB Foundation , itself based around a fork of MySQL. Meanwhile, Oracle has not appointed a vice president to head up MySQL development, he claimed.
Oracle has been offered the opportunity to comment.
Percona co-founder and MySQL performance expert Peter Zaitsev, who also signed the letter, said news of the shift from Oracle had not been enough to stop the group setting its own timetable.
"We need to understand what Oracle will actually be able to execute. We believe, especially in this case, when Oracle makes these promises, there should be an independent organization of MySQL users to keep Oracle accountable. We have to have somebody who can speak in a single voice and say, 'Oracle, you did this, you didn't deliver, and that is not OK, right?'"
He added that the group wanted to see a wide group of companies invited into the MySQL development community.
"If you go to mysql.com, you find nothing which is not Oracle. This is very different from something like PostgreSQL, where you come and you see all the PostgreSQL vendors out there having an even playing field. In modern open source, if you're doing something great in the MySQL space, you should have a vehicle to get it out there," he said.
MySQL's founding developer, Michael "Monty" Widenius, last year said he was "heartbroken" on hearing the [15]news of job losses at Oracle's MySQL engineering team , while the system has seen a [16]dramatic fall in the number of commits to the project.
The coming months will show if Oracle has an answer for those who want to reverse the trend. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://letter.3306-db.org/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/06/30_years_mysql/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aZSeslhzYlAHtEM-pbTVUAAAAE0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/16/oracle_new_era_mysql/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/30/oracle_mysql/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/23/mysql_post_oracle/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/11/oracle_slammed_for_mysql_job/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/16/oracle_new_era_mysql
[13] https://blogs.oracle.com/mysql/new-era-of-mysql-community-engagement
[14] https://lefred.be/content/i-joined-the-mariadb-foundation/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/11/oracle_slammed_for_mysql_job/
[16] https://devclass.com/2026/01/13/open-source-mysql-repository-has-no-commits-in-more-than-three-months/
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/