Re: postgresql vs mysql performance comparison

On Tue, 2005-03-08 at 09:06, Shelby Cain wrote:
> --- Howard Cole <howard(dot)cole(at)selestial(dot)com> wrote:
> >
> > Although not appropriate for a speed comparison, you
> > might want to note
> > that the use of Mysql versions 4.0 upward now
> > require commercial license
> > for clients, which are no longer LGPL, whereas
> > Postgres is free (BSD
> > license). This makes transactions per dollar an
> > interesting statistic
> > when comparing the Postgres and MySql!
> >
>
> Reading over their site that doesn't appear true for
> every case. The client libraries are under the GPL
> and thus any application that links to them would also
> be covered under the GPL. No commercial license is
> required unless the terms of the GPL (ie: if you
> distribute a binary to someone you must also be
> willing to distribute your source code if asked) a
> problem.

There have been some statements from MySQL in the past that implied they
might be taking a narrower view of what "distribution" meant than what
the GPL was saying. Also, it was impossible for PHP to be packaged with
MySQL libs due to incompatibilities with the GPL'd mysql connection
libs. It seems MySQL AB has clarified both on these pages:

http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/
http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/foss-exception.html
http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/faq.html

However, Fedora Core 2 still includes MySQL V 3.xx.yy because of the
issues wth V4.xx.yy's licensing. However, Suse does include the latest
version. So there's some difference of opinion on the issue from
different distros.