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Weblog:		Why MySQL grew so fast (news from the 2004 MySQL Users Conference)
Subject:		Works for me !
Date:		2004-04-21 13:12:26
From:		peter_g_22

I really like MySQL. I have been using it for about 3 years now and it has been extremely tolerant of my early attempts to build databases - so much so that it's enabled me to write quite a few systems that do really useful stuff with no formal database training. That's not to say it's a "databases for dummies" - it does enable you to get started on the database ladder and helps you reach a point where you can take the next step up the ladder, and as a lone developer, there's no huge outlay which is good. There's also the issue of hardware requirements: quite a few times I've looked at various versions of other personal/lite editions of commercial databases and not had a powerful enough machine to be able to run them. Also, there's the question of hosting: I can pay $20 / month for my hosting and that includes MySQL - i've been able to do some very cool stuff for not a lot of money - sure, Oracle would be nice, but I'm sure I couldn't get it for that price. As for the missing features, then heck, simply program around them ! I work in Perl and really it's not difficult to implement basic workarounds for the majority of problems. No, I think all in all MySQL has been right for me. It's user friendly, affordable, tolerant and powerful. Nuff said !