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pgo · 08-05-2006, 15:53

I'm just curious to learn more. I'm working on an intranet for our corporate masters, which is running an open source CMS that supports MySQL and PostgreSQL.

We have a web server (Win2003, IIS, MSSQL). IT guy says, "...*grumble* I thought the whole point of open source was broad support..."

So, anyone want to offer any insight on why it's more difficult (or just less common) for OSS projects to support Microsoft SQL?

datahound · 08-05-2006, 16:11

The whole point of OS is not to makes Bill any richer?

pgo · 08-05-2006, 16:37

Well, I'm more interested in why MSSQL isn't generally supported by OSS, but SQL is open source - as are most of its derivatives (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.)

Is it that MSSQL a closed-source database based on the ANSI/ISO standard SQL?

smallbeer · 08-05-2006, 18:05

isn't it as simple as open source projects will more likely support other open source projects?

pgo · 08-05-2006, 18:49

I assumed that. I just didn't know if there was something different about MSSQL that made it unfriendly (beyond its being licensed under the MS EULA as opposed to GPL/GNU or BSD).

datahound · 08-05-2006, 18:59

Well at the risk of getting chewed again..

I would imagine it has a load of bloated MS propietary code stuck on the front of the file so only MS products know how to deal with it. Like Excel or Word. I should imagine you can write past the code now a lot of the MS code was released but now the OS community no longer care and have made there own product groups that do not require compromise?

pgo · 08-05-2006, 19:07

Could be true, but I won't vouch for it. From what I understand, MSSQL isn't as common on enterprise-level databases simply because the other flavors are faster - with MySQL generally regarded as the fastest SQL database system out there. The relative slowness of MSSQL could certainly be caused by code bloat, so that may be true as well.

smallbeer · 08-05-2006, 19:16

google will know. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

Dusteh · 09-05-2006, 05:27

Can he not run Apache or something so that the Windows environment will support MySQL, I'm no tech guy - thats his job to find the solution.

lyndon · 09-05-2006, 05:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgo

So, anyone want to offer any insight on why it's more difficult (or just less common) for OSS projects to support Microsoft SQL?

Why should they? The whole spirit of open source software is to embrace it and, whilst some popular Open Source products support MSSQL, embracing Microsoft products that cost the earth goes against the grain somewhat.

It might also be the case that no-one has written a MSSQL plugin/whatever for this particluar CMS because no-one has needed one yet - Why pay £1,000 for just 5 Client Access Licences when you can use MySQL for free?!?

xml · 09-05-2006, 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgo

Well, I'm more interested in why MSSQL isn't generally supported by OSS, but SQL is open source - as are most of its derivatives (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.)

Is it that MSSQL a closed-source database based on the ANSI/ISO standard SQL?

SQL is just a comomn language for data retreival from a database.

Most OSS projects don't support MSSQL because in the most part OSS enviroments don't have/use MSSQL.

There's also a principle behind it from the OSS developers, they don't want to help out Microsoft. This is a catch 22 situation tho, because they alienate one hell of an audience.

The way I interpret OSS developers is that they actually like it being a niche, and that they're somehow special to be part of it, and that MS users are idiots.

pgo · 09-05-2006, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusteh

Can he not run Apache or something so that the Windows environment will support MySQL, I'm no tech guy - thats his job to find the solution.

I think the goal around here for the IT guys is "Do as little actual work as humanly possible." Plus that server is already serving pages with IIS/MSSQL I believe - what those pages could be, I don't know.

08-05-2006, 15:53	#1 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Databases I'm just curious to learn more. I'm working on an intranet for our corporate masters, which is running an open source CMS that supports MySQL and PostgreSQL. We have a web server (Win2003, IIS, MSSQL). IT guy says, "...grumble I thought the whole point of open source was broad support..." So, anyone want to offer any insight on why it's more difficult (or just less common) for OSS projects to support Microsoft SQL?

08-05-2006, 16:11	#2 (permalink)
datahound Spare Parts Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bracknell Forest Posts: 5,146	The whole point of OS is not to makes Bill any richer? __________________ poochmedia \| Computer Spare Parts \| Computer & Telephone Disposals

08-05-2006, 18:59	#6 (permalink)
datahound Spare Parts Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bracknell Forest Posts: 5,146	Well at the risk of getting chewed again.. I would imagine it has a load of bloated MS propietary code stuck on the front of the file so only MS products know how to deal with it. Like Excel or Word. I should imagine you can write past the code now a lot of the MS code was released but now the OS community no longer care and have made there own product groups that do not require compromise? __________________ poochmedia \| Computer Spare Parts \| Computer & Telephone Disposals

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08-05-2006, 16:37	#3 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Well, I'm more interested in why MSSQL isn't generally supported by OSS, but SQL is open source - as are most of its derivatives (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.) Is it that MSSQL a closed-source database based on the ANSI/ISO standard SQL?

08-05-2006, 18:05	#4 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,206	isn't it as simple as open source projects will more likely support other open source projects?

08-05-2006, 18:49	#5 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	I assumed that. I just didn't know if there was something different about MSSQL that made it unfriendly (beyond its being licensed under the MS EULA as opposed to GPL/GNU or BSD).

08-05-2006, 19:07	#7 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Could be true, but I won't vouch for it. From what I understand, MSSQL isn't as common on enterprise-level databases simply because the other flavors are faster - with MySQL generally regarded as the fastest SQL database system out there. The relative slowness of MSSQL could certainly be caused by code bloat, so that may be true as well.

08-05-2006, 19:16	#8 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,206	google will know. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

09-05-2006, 05:27	#9 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 5,413	Can he not run Apache or something so that the Windows environment will support MySQL, I'm no tech guy - thats his job to find the solution.

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