RE: [stellation-res] Stellation support for MySQL on Linux

["Mark C. Chu-Carroll" <mcc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 2002-11-02 at 10:05, Jonathan Gossage wrote:
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: stellation-res-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > >[mailto:stellation-res-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of David Shields
> > >Sent: November 2, 2002 9:28 AM
> > >To: stellation-res@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > >Subject: RE: [stellation-res] Stellation support for MySQL on Linux
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >> If that is the case than is not MySQL out of the question no
> > >matter which
> > >> JDBC driver we use? We have specific code in the database
> > >support to deal
> > >> with MySQL itself and that is definitely GPL. Does that not force the
> > >> application og GPL irrespective of the JDBC library?
> > >
> > >We weren't aware of the problem when the code was added. The
> > >change to GPL
> > >for JDBC is only recent. The author now works for mysql.com
> > >and the Connecctor J page tells you how to get non-GPL license, but that
> > >doesn't
> > >make any sense for an open-source project such as ours.
> > >
> > >
> > >I'm very dubious about basing any of out future work on MySQL,
> > >as it would
> > >I think
> > >require limiting ourselves to the LPGL version, thus giving up any chance
> > >to exploit their future work. I'm also curious
> > >what will happen when companies shipping proprietary code using
> > >Connector J
> > >will do when they
> > >become aware of this change, but that's not our problem.
> > >
> > >> A little off topic, but relevant still. How do the CDT folks get away
> > >with
> > >> using GCC and its' toolchain which are all GPL licensed?
> > >
> > >They are just using the GCC for its intended purpose, not
> > >incorporating it
> > >in
> > >their code. What I see as the problem with JDBC is that in using
> > >it you are
> > >bringing
> > >bytes based on its source into memory, which can be viewed as
> > >"loading" and
> > >that
> > >brings you under the GPL. There are also specific exemptions re use of
> > >libraries
> > >for GPL code under Linux and Cygwin under Windows, but I doubt they apply
> > >to JDBC's and on Windows when
> > >not using Cygwin (and I do *not* want to take the Cygwin route
> > >on Windows).
> 
> I have to agree with you there. Although Cygwin is not that hard to install
> under Windows, it puts a potentially large chunk of code on a machine that
> the user might not, otherwise have any use for. It also could be a
> deployment hassle in a commercial shop where users do not control their own
> machines. This happens even to developers in some places!
> 
> I guess the bottom line is that unless a a CPL compatible JDBC driver
> becomes available that we could distribute we are out of luck with MySQL.
> Which leaves the problem of an open source database for Windows. The current
> Postgres installs and works fine under Windows providing you install two
> additional components, namely Cygwin and the Cygipc package which provides
> Unix System V IPC mechanisms. This latter package is in he process of being
> folded into the standard Cygwin DLL but this process is not yet complete. I
> have yet to try Firebird but I think I should raise its' priority given the
> MySQL situation.

That would be my suggestion. I'm going to be away for the
next few days at OOPSLA, and I'll be bringing along firebird
documentation to do a bit of much-delayed reading up on
it. From the information available to me about the various
databases, and the unfortunate change in MySQL, Firebird is
looking like a good choice for a frontrunner as the preferred
open-source database for Stellation. It's performance is
good, the JDBC drivers are solid, and it runs smoothly
and easily on both windows and linux. 

I am also going to drop a polite note to the MySQL folks,
explaining our situation, and how we really hate to drop
MySQL support, but that the licensing change leaves us no
real choice. I'm sure we're not the only open-source
project in this situation, and perhaps if they realize
how many potential users they're losing, they might change
their minds about the license. 

	-Mark

-- 
Mark Craig Chu-Carroll,  IBM T.J. Watson Research Center  
*** The Stellation project: Advanced SCM for Collaboration
***		http://www.eclipse.org/stellation
*** Work Email: mcc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx  ------- Personal Email: markcc@xxxxxxxxxxx