MySQL’s version numbering is getting harder and harder to understand. In fact, it’s getting surreal. Let me state up front that there’s probably a lot I don’t know here. But if I don’t know, how on earth can the general public figure it out? Before we begin, let’s define terms: GA is completely done, ready for use. RC is a release candidate: don’t change anything, just fix bugs because we’re charging towards a release here.

A couple of months ago, I wrote about the hierarchy of enterprise software needs, and today I would like to share with you how I think those needs have changed.

A long, long time (say ten years) ago, a company might decide that it needs to manage its sales effort more effectively. It might decide that a CRM system is what it needed, then buy servers, license a package, and then train, or at least try to train, its salespeople to use the system. They are told that they need to enter all their account and contact information into the system, log all their calls and meetings with clients, and fill out forms to record the sales opportunities. They will also have to make periodic forecasts with the system.

Needless to say, some sales people might resist, but it's up to management to make sure that they …

Just a day at the office, at MySQL Sun
Originally uploaded by FallenPegasusOne of the perqs of working for MySQL has always been working from home, or wherever. When the weather is really nice, the wherever can be the porch in the back yard.

Recycling old MySQL business cards
Originally uploaded by Geert JM VanderkelenWell, we don't have a policy on what to do with them, so I went creative. Not as creative as Harrison did (where is that picture???), but I like it. It's hanging next to my MySQL certificates. Yes, I'm proud on these things, maybe I'm a bit vain.. But it does look good on the wall of my storage room.

(btw, this flickr to Google blogging is great!)

A bit of early Sunday morning rhymes at work.. picking up a support shift (not all you read is true: I do not hug cups!):

The struggle to wake up,
rubbing eyes and hugging the cup
Picking up the shift,
reading email and hoping for no drift
Reminders better be spam,
this morning I wish it remain calm

Oh little hangover
Why are you here
Oh little fever
It must have been the beer

Still dawn outside,
soon customers awake, and I can't hide
If it all stays online,
all will be good, I'll have a great time,
But something will have failed,
and we'll save folks badly bunkered

Oh five hours of sleep
Why wasn't it longer
Oh in bottles I looked deep
Eight hours, I hope not to linger(penned on 20th January 2008) 

Just a quick note to let you know that you can download and test the new MyISAM online backup that is part of the overall new backup utility that is shipping with MySQL 6.0.  The backup is native (not logical like a mysqldump backup) and online so you should get no interruptions in activity while the backup is running and it should be faster than logical-styled backups.  Download the preview and let the backup team know what you think.  Do keep in mind this is a preview release so you may/will find bugs.  Finally, kudos to the backup team for getting this out far ahead of the original  schedule.

I will be in Rome on May 30 to attend the meeting with Marten Mickos.
Giuseppe has posted a translation of the official announcement of the event, here.

I will be there as a member of the Community and as CTO of HoneySoftware (an Italian ISV, MySQL® Enterprise Ready Partner).

I am wondering if there will be also a meeting in the morning with customers (as Giuseppe posted) or not: the official agenda starts only at 4:30 pm.

See you there!

This is my first post on Planet MySQL® (a feed aggregator for blogs, news and opinions on MySQL®).

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Yesterday I had a look at the Open Source Census (OSC), a project aiming at counting the installations of open source packages.

It is a collaborative effort. The OSC offers the infrastructure, and it's open to cooperation. It works with a disc scanner, and relies on the principle that the contributions are voluntary and anonymous.
If you want to contribute, you need to register, and you are encouraged to do so anonymously. The OSC is not interested in who you are, but the registration gives you a chance of tracking your results with the rest of the community.
The registration is also necessary to avoid duplicates, and to track your installations over time, should you decide to do that on a regular basis.
If you want to give it a try, the procedure goes like this:

1. Register (with any fancy …