Linux Online - Study: Open-source databases going mainstream

Study: Open-source databases going mainstream


Publication:	ZDNet	Date:	Mar 09 2004
Reporter:	Stephen Shankland

Following in the footsteps of the Linux operating system, open-source databases are moving toward mainstream use and threatening proprietary software alternatives, according to a new survey.

"Open-source databases are in the experimentation phase of the market but will move to widespread acceptance by 2006," the AMR Research study said. AMR surveyed 140 information technology managers in December and released results this month.

The underlying code of open-source software programs can be freely viewed, modified and redistributed by anyone, a stark contrast to tightly controlled proprietary software such as databases from Oracle, IBM and Microsoft. Challenges will come from three contenders in the open-source database market: MySQL, MaxDB and PostgreSQL, AMR said.