In a recent interview, Michael Stonebraker, the esteemed creator of PostgreSQL, reflected on the unexpected consequences of Oracle’s acquisition of MySQL. He noted that this pivotal moment inadvertently catalyzed PostgreSQL’s rise to prominence, particularly among major tech players such as Microsoft, AWS, and Google. Stonebraker, a professor emeritus at UC Berkeley, explained that Oracle’s decision to retain MySQL following its purchase of Sun Microsystems has significantly influenced the database landscape.
PostgreSQL, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this summer, has evolved from its origins as Stonebraker’s earlier Postgres system, first proposed in 1986. Over the past five years, PostgreSQL’s popularity has surged, culminating in its recognition as the preferred database among developers in 2023, as highlighted by the latest Stack Overflow survey. This growth is further supported by various vendors, including cloud hyperscalers and companies like CockroachDB and YugabyteDB, which offer services that align with PostgreSQL’s capabilities.
Microsoft has notably contributed to the PostgreSQL ecosystem, launching its own distributed PostgreSQL database service aimed at competing with other hyperscaler offerings and third-party relational database management systems. Stonebraker remarked on the extensive adoption of PostgreSQL’s wire format, stating, “By PostgreSQL, I mean a database system that’s compatible with the wire format, and so that’s lots and lots of systems. All the elephants – Microsoft, Google, and Amazon – have all bet the ranch on the PostgreSQL wire format.” In contrast, he observed that MySQL is increasingly fading as a competitor, particularly following Oracle’s acquisition in 2010.
Stonebraker expressed gratitude towards Oracle for inadvertently fostering PostgreSQL’s growth. He pointed out that the acquisition raised concerns about MySQL’s future direction, prompting many users to explore PostgreSQL as a viable alternative. “PostgreSQL is not controlled by any vendor. It’s controlled by a gang of 20 or 30-ish very smart super programmers, and so I think it will remain outside the control of any given vendor indefinitely. That’s open source at its absolute best,” he stated.
Throughout his illustrious career, Stonebraker has founded several database companies, including Illustra and Vertica. Now in his 80s, he remains actively engaged in the field. Three years ago, he co-founded DBOS, a company that emerged from his proposal for a data-centric operating system alongside other researchers, including Matei Zaharia, the creator of Apache Spark. DBOS has since pivoted towards AI agents, leveraging its “time travel” capabilities to enhance agentic workflows. The company asserts that its technology enables durable execution, allowing applications to recover automatically from interruptions while maintaining workflow state and execution history. Co-founders Qian Li and Peter Kraft have taken on the roles of CEO and CTO, respectively, while partnerships with Databricks and CockroachDB further bolster the company’s innovative endeavors in AI agent deployments.
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As the database landscape continues to evolve, the impact of PostgreSQL’s open-source model and its community-driven development stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of technology in the face of corporate acquisitions and market shifts.
