A strategy similar to that of Invision Power board.... give it for free during several years, create users' dependency and endind up charging for the software :/
Well I'm worried But it's still up on dev.mysql.com but some people mentioned that it's only .27, where as .30 is the newest version and requires you to pay.
see? the same behavior observed by IPB, the only difference is that they removed any downloadable link to old versions, even though is still legit running any of them.
Definately still available ... This worries me though as well. I thought that mySQL was supposed to be of the opensource side of things, and that much has been contributed to the project from outside of the main "business". If so, I would say that they are overstepping the bounds of its development, and that there would be a backlash if they really forced payment for the newer versions. Many webhosts are so tied to it that I see it as being a potentially hard thing to enforce as well.
Really? Sold their Avatar space? Damnit - How Do I do that? LOL! Anyways question at hand: MySQL will not be free forever (but we hope it will). I'm sure they get extremely jealous when they see MsSQL 2K5 is pulling massive cash per license... and we don't even want to talk about oracle (who at one time was free). Tis just the standard business model - Give it free, get um' hooked, Charge a Shi*tload for re-use. I think the use of drugs has REALLY increased our business model
Just as MYSQL gets the features it need they take it away from us....version 3 with its weak functionality used to drive me mad, version 5 give me what I need... We need to bear in mind that mysql is now is use in some big corporate environments - I think the route they are looking to follow is perhaps closer to the Linux one than the Oracle one - free versions are maintained, but with chargeable support / maintenance. I hope so anyway!
i think it is not a big problem for big earner and programmer who can afford to pay. It is going to be a pain for those start out as a new programmer. I could imagine that... Well, life isn't fair, but we work hard to make it fair (paying for mysql and make good site to get money back )
That's what I want to know that whether this will affect "general" web hosting, and if so, to what extent?
I'm not sure about exactly what kinds of numbers they'd be looking at. But with as much effort as what's been put in to undercutting competition, I'd think the larger companies would find a way to essentially eat the cost. It would likely affect the smaller hosts the most, and maybe make it harder for them to compete if the cost is enough to make them have to raise prices significantly.
hmm... i've been digging around since reading this thread. i don't think mysql is trying to make their product (version 5) paid... from what i understand, they are only hesitant to move to gpl version 3. they're planning to stick to gpl version 2 and wait for the controversies surrounding gpl version3 to settle.
I'll admit that I don't understand the lingo (ie GPL). But that was just the general consensus I got from the digg comments