HackFest B: Creating a New SHOW Command by Brian Aker at the MySQL Users Conference

Brian stepped through the steps for those attending to modify and deploy new functionality in the mysql server. Cool. The end result I would consider for an experienced developer as relatively easy (after avoiding the pitfalls).

NOTE: I wasn’t able to complete this successfully during the session, but I’ve posted this, so hopefully the input and review of others can help in overcoming the current issues. See Outstanding Issues throughout my notes.

Our goal: Produce a new command SHOW CONFERENCE;

The following commands were performed on CentOS 4.2. There may be some …

I spoke with Paola Lubet, VP of Marketing at SolidDB to discuss their recent announcements with MySQL. According to Paola, the major roadblock for OSS databases into mission-critical environments is the real time nature of transactional data. SolidDB has been developing real-time databases for the last 14 years with features that go beyond basic storage (as one might perceive OSS databases to offer). This advanced functionality is common to Oracle etc, but not regularly seen in OSS databases. MySQL is the first open source DB that will feature this functionality. Both camps think that this will help MySQL move deeper into enterprises.

A prototype is available for download now.
Beta is July
Production is planned for Q4.

I've been watching the ruminations surrounding Red Hat's acquisition of JBoss with lively interest. Most of the past 5-10 years have been spent wondering how to beat Microsoft. Now, it seems, the struggle is to beat Red Hat...

...and it hasn't even won yet. :-)

It is testament to Red Hat's success that the Financial Times reports that Oracle has considered buying Novell. Stephe rightly points out that Oracle is not a middleware provider, per se, and so should not feel overly threatened by Red Hat's acquisition. Yet it clearly does.

Why? Because there's nothing more terrifying to a closed-source vendor, no matter where it sits in the software stack, than an aggressive, hungry, and successful open source player. Success …

I'm putting together an Executive Radar event with Tim O'Reilly for this year's OSCON in Portland, Oregon. One of the sessions actually has me somewhat sleepless (literally - I'm typing this at 5:17 AM...), and results from a seemingly innocuous blog post Tim had a few weeks back.

Open Source and the Future of Asymmetric Competition
For years the software industry has largely competed on the basis of symmetry: Oracle versus IBM in databases; BEA versus IBM in application servers; etc. Feature wars, price wars, but not true competition wars. That is, competing by playing a different game, with different rules. Open source enables an alternative battleground upon which to compete, with community, code, and culture the new competitive tools. This session brings …

The PHP Vikinger is a community-driven PHP event that will be held in Skien, Norway from June 24th to 25th. Like the famous Foo Camp and Bar Camp, PHP Vikinger is driven by its attendees. The people who come choose and present the sessions at the event.

Attendance is by a mix of invitation and registration. 50 invitations have been sent to various PEAR and PHP contributors and 50 spots are open for people who register. Additionally, the invitees have been asked to nominate another 50 people who should be invited to the event.

The event is meant to be as affordable as possible; registration is only 20 Euros, and simple food and a place to sleep are …

I just sent out the invitations for the PHP Vikinger event. My method for choosing who to invite was pretty simple - I chose people listed in the the PHP and PEAR credits who I had written personal email to in the last few years.

Nepotistic? “Nay”, say I, “Nepotastic!” I know that the people I invited are cool, which will mean a good event for people who register. Also, as we have registrations, it won’t be too elitist or exclusive.

If you are curious, read on for the entire invitation (minus the list of attendees.)

NOTE: If you didn’t get an invitation email, then hold tight - you will still be able to register in a week or so.

Aloha $person,

This is an invitation to the PHP Vikinger - read on for details.

WHAT IS IT?
“”"”"”"”"”"
The PHP Vikinger is a community-driven PHP event that will be …

A few months ago I wrote from Caracas, Venezuela on the importance of infrastructure. I'm on vacation in Costa Rica now with my family, and the same lesson is hitting home.

In software, we're largely coming to take infrastructure for granted, thanks to exceptional middleware from JBoss, databases from PosgreSQL and MySQL, etc. We think, in other words, that 280 (California), I-80 (CA to UT and beyond), I-95 (Massachusetts), M25 (London), and other roads just happen. They're free, like much of our best software. Infrastructure is FREE!!!!

Except that it's not. I drove on pseudo-free infrastructure Sunday as my family and I headed to church in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The drive is roughly 60 kilometers, and took us 1.5 hours. Why did it take so long? Because try as I might, I couldn't jump our little Toyota over the massive …

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

Mohandas Gandhi

Linux is in the "win" phase. Apache webserver is in the "won" phase. MySQL and JBoss are in the stage where the laughter turns bitter and the pushing starts. Big wins are on the horizon.

Open source applications? We're at the point the ignorance is breeding laughter. SugarCRM, Alfresco, JasperSoft, Plone, Compiere, etc. These are all applications that used to be ignored, but ignorance is no longer serving proprietary competitors well.

As a case in point, InformationWeek just ran a story on Boise Cascade's use of Alfresco for invoice management. Big customer, big need, big value.

Documentum's response? Completely off-base, ill-founded commentary ("Boise's need …

JBoss is going to get bought.

It's no secret that Oracle wasn't the only one sniffing after JBoss. Red Hat has talked about buying JBoss (though it's hard to see Matthew and Marc getting along well :-), as has IBM.

But Novell is the best fit.

Disagree? You think JBoss + Novell = NoBoss? Think it doesn't make sense, or won't happen? I think you're wrong.

Why Novell? Let me count the ways...

1. Novell has lots of cash. Too much cash, comparatively. (See right.) Marc Fleury wants cash. (Who doesn't?) Perfect match.

2. Novell has struggled to convince enterprises to move from NetWare to Open Enterprise Server/SLES, though results have been improving under Ron Hovsepian. Still, the needs something else to attract and hook would-be customers. …

For all of the innovation that occurs in today's technology marketplace, the most commonly used business applications-those associated with Microsoft Office -- remain stale and hackneyed. While we wait for Microsoft to come out with a new version of Office that overshoots user need while ensuring that consumers, businesses and government remain locked into Microsoft specific standards, I put forth the notion that an open source business productivity suite has the rare opportunity to dislodge Microsoft's stronghold on the desktop - it just needs a little help from the community.

The Ultimate Battleground?
We are on the cusp of a unique time in the Microsoft product lifecycle. Both Office 12 and Windows Vista loom on the horizon and IT shops and end-users around the world will have to decide just how much extra they are willing to pay (again) for applications like Powerpoint and Access, and how much they plan to use InfoPath and …