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MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system that was released in 2009. It was created as a fork of MySQL by its original creator, Michael Widenius, after MySQL was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2008.
Michael Widenius decided to create MariaDB due to his concerns about the future of MySQL under the ownership of Oracle Corporation and his desire to continue developing an open-source and free database that could be used by the developer community.
The name “Maria” is a play on words that refers to the name of Michael Widenius’ youngest daughter and also means “simplicity” in Latin, reflecting the project’s philosophy of making database management more accessible and user-friendly.
Since its release in 2009, MariaDB has experienced rapid growth and has become one of the most popular open-source databases in the world. It has been adopted by a wide range of companies and organizations, including Wikimedia Foundation, Google, Red Hat, and Alibaba.
In addition to its compatibility with MySQL, MariaDB also offers a range of enhancements and new features, such as support for multiple storage engines and improved monitoring and diagnostic tools.
In summary, the story of MariaDB is that of an open-source project born as a fork of MySQL due to the concerns of its original creator about the project’s future under the ownership of Oracle Corporation. Since its release in 2009, MariaDB has achieved great success and has become one of the most popular open-source databases in the world.
