> Hmmm, MySQL 5 is promising though. And quite the nice stab at
> Firebird - with _still_ no released v2 ( I know why, but the outside
> world doesn't) and is slowly creeping towards v3 with hardly any
> new features? While MySQL 5 and 5.1 (which is underway) are
> packed with new stuff.

True. However, with the Oracle-cloud hanging over it, it may turn out
to be a hard sell to non-GPL users. The VC's are likely to be very
focused on their exit (last round was in 2003, exit after 3) and
hence on financial performance.

On the feature side I agree that we need to move faster. I think that
2006 will packed with new Firebird and Firebird-based releases. We
have done the coding homework - now we need to package and sell it.

Remember, success is ultimately not decided by features, but by
offering practical solutions to users who aren't necessarily
interested in the database underneath. MySQL was succesful because
for a while it was the best choice for building dynamic websites.
This MySQL 3/4 franchise is eroding and whatever MySQL 5 franchise
will have fierce competition from the incumbants: us and
SQLServer/MSDE.

Thinking creatively, the best thing for Marten to do would be to plan
for a gradual phase-out of the MSQL5/Inno code base, adopt the
Firebird code base and shift from selling licences to selling
support, Red Hat style. Marten's problem: one does not have that
shift in place by 2006.

Paul