An online WooCommerce store I created suddenly started experiencing file system full. The cause ? MySQL binary logs demesurably growing...
MariaDB
MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that is a fork of the popular MySQL database. It was created by the original developers of MySQL, who wanted to create a more open and community-driven alternative to MySQL after it was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2010.
MariaDB is designed to be a drop-in replacement for MySQL, meaning that it is compatible with MySQL’s syntax, APIs, and tools. In fact, MariaDB is often referred to as a “binary-compatible” fork of MySQL, which means that it can run MySQL applications and databases without modification.
Despite its similarities to MySQL, MariaDB has several key differences and advantages. Some of the main differences include:
1. Licensing : MariaDB is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which is a more permissive open-source license than MySQL’s dual-licensing model.
2. Community-driven : MariaDB is developed and maintained by a community of developers, rather than a single company. This leads to faster bug fixes, more transparent decision-making, and a more open development process.
3. Performance : MariaDB has several performance enhancements and optimizations that are not available in MySQL, including improved query optimization, faster storage engines, and better support for parallel query execution.
4. Security : MariaDB has a stronger focus on security, with features like encryption at rest and in transit, secure password hashing, and improved access control.
5. Storage engines : MariaDB supports a wider range of storage engines, including the Aria storage engine, which is designed for high-performance and high-availability applications.
6. SQL syntax : MariaDB has a more flexible and expressive SQL syntax than MySQL, with features like window functions, common table expressions, and improved support for JSON data types.
Despite these differences, MariaDB is still largely compatible with MySQL, and many MySQL applications and tools can be used with MariaDB without modification. In fact, many Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and Fedora, have switched to MariaDB as their default database management system.
In summary, MariaDB is a fork of MySQL that offers a more open, community-driven, and performant alternative to MySQL. While it is largely compatible with MySQL, it has several key differences and advantages that make it a popular choice for many developers and organizations.
