The Howdy Glossary

MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system developed by the original creators of MySQL due to concerns over Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems, which owned MySQL. MariaDB maintains compatibility with MySQL but adds features, improvements, and performance enhancements. It supports various programming languages and offers advanced clustering capabilities and unique storage engines such as XtraDB and Aria. MariaDB is primarily licensed under the GNU General Public License.

Developed by figures like Michael "Monty" Widenius, David Axmark, and Allan Larsson, MariaDB was created to ensure the availability of a high-quality alternative to MySQL after Oracle's acquisition raised concerns about future developments. By offering a secure, feature-rich database solution with advanced options like XtraDB, Aria, and Galera Cluster for flexibility and scalability across applications, MariaDB aims to prioritize user needs over commercial interests.

Competing against systems like MySQL (now owned by Oracle) and PostgreSQL—as well as commercial products from Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle Database—MariaDB sets itself apart through its open-source nature, active community contributions, enhanced performance optimizations, unique storage engines like XtraDB and Aria, and advanced clustering via Galera Cluster. Offering both flexible licensing under GNU GPL and optional commercial support through MariaDB Corporation AB ensures it caters effectively to diverse users ranging from individual developers to large enterprises in industries such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and technology seeking reliable data management solutions.