I first learned about the giant merger yesterday but preferred to write about it now if only to let it sink in and learn more. Well, it's morning, and here're what's primary on my mind:

Good: In one fell swoop, another giant is at large, and a very powerful one with fingers in both hardware and software pies. The impact may mostly be on the Corporate side of IT, but I think that's only at the onset. With a player that has both Oracle's expertise (not to mention Larry Ellison's ego), plus Sun's hardware, the threat to IBM is most imminent. But after the dust has settled, I think there will be impact on the consumer market as well.

This is good for us as it gives us another player with a different mindset, a different way of doing things, and hopefully introducing a fresh perspective. See for the most part, I really believe we haven't really explored what computers can do. Pioneering efforts into the field require great inputs of cash and effort that can only be produced by giants such as Intel, Oracle, Sun, Microsoft, IBM, etc. - not only individually, but working as a group. Oracle + Sun is the merger of two greats in their particular fields, so the potential for innovative stuff exists.

Bad: Oracle now owns MySQL, the small database that can, and because I am an open - source enthusiast, this has turned into more than just a simple merger for me. Ellison (I keep mentioning his name in lieu of 'Oracle', simply because he is Oracle), like Jobs and Gates have their opinion about open source and it is not in line with their goals simply because open source, while creating huge market share, doesn't make anyone much money.

MySQL, along with OpenOffice, the other open source Sun property, are tremendously popular and stand as great examples of open source success, with the community contributing to its growth and embracing its use. I'd not be surprised if 80% to 90% of the internet's most popular applications and websites run on MySQL, and the ecosystem between its community is comfortable and tightly wound such that it's the sort of thing that can only grow further.

What I'm trying to say here is: MySQL, plus the other successful open source platforms in their respective fields have brought Order To The Force. As an example: When you're a netrepreneur focused on doing business on the Internet, you don't spend a lot of time wondering what the components you're going to use are. You go with the industry leaders, and MySQL is so far the best, has the most support, it's free and easy to implement all around. Oracle is going to want to make money off of that (make no mistake), therefore probably bringing disturbance to The Force. And yes, I am worried.

The rest of the news points involve Java, the future of which in Oracle's hands I'm not sure of, and the economy related details ie. the impending layoffs and enormous amounts of money about to change hands, which since I can only weigh in on tech side of things, I'll stick to that.

For the most part though, I think this is mostly a good thing for technology per se, but not so much for open source. I have no doubt in my mind Oracle will change the way MySQL does business (and you need to read up on exactly how they manage to survive while giving their product away to understand what I mean), and its impact on the millions of MySQL users - most of whom aren't even middle or small tier companies, but rather, ordinary people like myself.

There's change a-comin', and it might not necessarily be good.

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