> replace Postgresql with firebird , some names ;) and examples

Sent the following to the editor:

I read with interest your article on MySQL and the impact its having on the database market, as well as its attempts to add more
sophisticated capabilities such as triggers, views, and stored procedures. This article also has an addendum re. PostgreSQL: The
Other Open-Source Database.

While the original article mentions Sleepycat, none of the articles make any reference to Firebird. An open source relational
database that became available with open sourcing of Borland's InterBase code 4 years ago.

Firebird since its inception has already garnered a large user base, not only of old InterBase users but also new users. The
download statstics number in the millions, with an even larger user base.

Points to note.
1. Firebird already has sophisticated support for triggers, views, and stored procedures. Along with a number of other features that
are normally associated with commercial databases including row level locking via its multi-generational architecture. Its
background was commercial after all.
2. Firebird like PostgreSQL does not use a dual licensing mechanism. Its is free to download and deploy without incurring any
license fees for commercial applications. The license used is IPL (InterBase Public License) based on Mozilla's Public License.
3. Like MySQL it is simple and easy to install and manage. And has become a favourite for embedded VAR style applications.

Firebird like PostgreSQL has a "publicity" gap, but Firebird is becoming much more widely known. And is typically considered as one
of the three open source databases, along with MySQL and PostgreSQL.

My suggestion is that you have a look at it, and report further on its capabilities.

More info at:
http://www.firebirdsql.org and
http://www.ibphoenix.com


Also responded to an article on MySQL in IT Week re. hidden costs along the following lines...

Hidden Costs of Open Source

Re. your recent article that appeared in IT Week, entitled "Hidden Costs of Open Source". The points you make are accurate, but only
in respect to open source software products like MySQL. MySQL uses a dual licensing policy, a commercial license that allows the
MySQL database to be distributed with your application, without having to open source your own code, and a free software license if
you are distributing your own open source applications that comply with the GPL license.

This is pretty much the norm for most "commercially" viable open source projects, but not always. For example both Firebird (a
relational database based on the open sourcing of Borland's InterBase, 4 years ago) and PostgreSQL do not use GPL as their license.

So both can be freely deployed with commercial applications without requiring a license fee, or open sourcing your application code.
Firebird uses a variant of MPL (IPL, the InterBase Public License), whilst PostgreSQL uses the BSD license. This is important and
readers of your column should be made aware of it.

Your also cite the cost of installation support for MySQL is $1,000, IBPhoenix a major contibutor to Firebird and a commercial
organisation that provides support, training and consultancy services for Firebird, offers installation support for 30 days for only
a $100.00.

However I will confess that our entry level support is more expensive than MySQL's at $3,500.00, but I do believe that this does
offer good value for money, when you consider that we will typically find and fix bugs for our support customers immediately they
find them, something that most commercial software companies do not do.

Anyway, if a user a Firebird does not want to use our support services, they can always subscribe to the open, public support lists
and ask questions there, where answers are usually (but not always) provided to most questions, by other users of Firebird.


Regards
Paul Beach
CEO IBPhoenix
President Firebird Foundation.
Paul Beach
Main Tel (UK):+44 (0) 1844 354357
Mobile: (UK): +44 (0) 7837 898072