LINUXWORLD - MySQL upgrades open source database

MySQL AB on Tuesday announced at the LinuxWorld Expo conference in New York a version of its MySQL open-source database that includes \"subselects\" and other improvements to help enable the database to be used for large-scale enterprise application.

The first development release of MySQL Version 4.1 is available now at no cost at www.mysql.com, the company said. Version 4.1 integrates improvements to enhance the MySQL architectural foundation for building heavy-load commercial applications, according to MySQL.

With the development release, MySQL is stating there are no known bugs, and the database can be used by developers. But the company may still make small improvements during the next few months.

Included is support for SQL subselects, also known as subqueries or nested queries, which enable users to search complex data. Users can achieve query consolidation by nesting one query inside another to build a resource otherwise unavailable for searching in a single statement.

Subselects enable users to query within a result set, limit the result set, or correlate results with an otherwise-unrelated query in a single call to the database.

Also featured in Version 4.1 is a more highly optimized MySQL server library with a smaller footprint that performs faster when embedded in third-party software.

SSL (Secure Socket Layer) support is improved in Version 4.1, in which the "mysql" server daemon process can use SSL to secure traffic to MySQL databases from origination points such as a Windows application residing outside a firewall.

Version 4.1 also supports as many as 64Gb of memory in 32-bit Windows (AWE memory) using the InnoDB storage engine. Performance is improved through in-memory tables using B-TREE indices.

Also available in Version 4.1 is support for Unicode through the UCS2 and UTF8 international character sets, for easier storage and manipulation of internationalized data. Support also is included for a subset of GIS data types as proposed by the OpenGIS consortium, for searching in maps.

MySQL also provided some details on the next major version of the database, Version 5.0, which is due by the end of 2003. It will include features such as stored procedures and triggers.

Sun Microsystems Inc. has been bundling MySQL with its LX50 Linux server.

According to MySQL's Web site, the company has three main sources of revenue: Online support and subscription services sold to users of the MySQL server, sales of commercial MySQL licenses to users and developers of software products, and franchising of MySQL products and services under the MySQL brand to partners.