By Lindsay Clark
Publication Date: 2026-02-17 16:49:00
A group of influential MySQL users and developers have invited Oracle to join their plans to create an independent foundation to guide the future development of the popular open source database owned by Big Red.
The group wants to create a charitable foundation to support the MySQL community and would like Oracle, as the owner of the MySQL software and brand, to help develop the plans.
A number of companies that support and develop MySQL-based systems support the initiative. The open letter Oracle’s invitation to participate in plans to create an independent foundation to govern MySQL has garnered around 100 signatures at the time of writing.
The group sees the plan as the best way to address a number of challenges facing MySQL. which became popular among internet startups in the early 2000s. MySQL was part of the LAMP stack, which was commonly used for Internet services at the time.
