> > 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.
>
> And because it was free.
>
> And because the security system was easy to use for ISPs.
>
> And because fixes were available continuesly. Ever looked at the
> number of minor updates?

Yes, this all contributes to having been the best choice for this
type of app for a while

> > This MySQL 3/4 franchise is eroding and whatever MySQL 5 franchise
> > will have fierce competition from the incumbants: us and
> > SQLServer/MSDE.
>
> Sure, this will become interesting. But Firebird will missed the
> boat when it comes to "we have procedure, triggers, views and check
> constraints" with MySQL on a number of -other- features that the
> MySQL crowd was used to.

Yeah, that pitch is going nowhere. It should be "capable, compact,
easy, free". In the end it like with OS's: it is all about the number
of (quality) applications that you can use with it.

> Now, get SQL 2005 in your VMWare session. Woah, that's a change.
> I predict that it will be hard to change from SQL 2000 to 2005 ( I'm
> changing - a lot - of code in a certain GUI tool ;) ... But on the
> other hand, SQL 2005 offers a lot of new features compared to 2000.
> Yes, Firebird has some of them and lacks many of them. Add to that,
> .NET is coming to SQL 2005. And the dreaded XQuery crap.

Fyracle 0.8.9 will have support for SP's in any language. It will
come with Java out of the box, but could include .NET as well. Many
FB developers will enjoy writing SP's in Delphi.

XQuery can relatively easily be handled in a companion server. I'm
sure we'll have something useful in 2006.

> Don't get me wrong, I still like Firebird and use it for quite some
> things,both internally here and externally. Works as a treat.
> Then again, so does MySQL for other things and nice free and open
> source PHP applications :-)

Sure, MySQL is a nice product with a number of useful applications
build around it. What is the news in that?

Paul