Introduction

Hello everyone. Recently, I’ve been working on a personal project that requires a database, so I’ve been comparing various DB options. Among them, I had the chance to try MariaDB, and I decided to write this article to share what I’ve learned as a reference for myself and for others.

I’m not an expert on MariaDB yet (This time, it was my first time to use it). However, if you’re also a beginner or someone interested in MariaDB but don’t know much about it, I hope this article provides some useful, basic information for you.

What is MariaDB?

MariaDB is an open-source database management system derived from MySQL. It was created by the developers of MySQL, and is designed to be highly compatible with MySQL, making it easy to use and free to use. MariaDB is widely adopted, ranging from small businesses to personal projects, and it is especially known for its reliability and performance.

Comparison of MariaDB and MySQL

MariaDB is a database derived from MySQL, and while they share many similarities, there are some notable differences.

• Open-Source Model:
  MySQL is managed by Oracle Corporation and includes options for commercial licensing. In contrast, MariaDB is actively developed by the open-source community. While each approach has its pros and cons, one advantage of MariaDB is its lower risk of future licensing changes, which can be a significant benefit for users.

• Additional Features:
  MariaDB includes unique features not available in MySQL, such as its proprietary storage engines (e.g., Aria, ColumnStore, MyRocks). It also offers tools for simplifying distributed databases and improvements in query optimization. As a later development derived from MySQL, MariaDB incorporates many enhancements and new functionalities.

• Performance:
  MariaDB has been optimized to outperform MySQL in some cases. It is particularly noted for its improved performance when handling large-scale databases and complex queries.

• Compatibility:
  MariaDB and MySQL are highly compatible, and most applications designed for MySQL will run on MariaDB as well. However, due to differences in new features and versioning, compatibility issues can arise. For example, MariaDB is fully compatible with MySQL up to version 5.5, but since MariaDB 10.x, it has taken its own development path with some unique features. Additionally, applications built for MySQL may require testing in specific environments to ensure full compatibility.

On the other hand, MariaDB does have some weaknesses compared to MySQL. For instance:

• Ecosystem and Commercial Support: MySQL benefits from Oracle's robust support, making its ecosystem and commercial support more mature. Some cloud services and tools offer only limited support for MariaDB.
• Community Size: MariaDB’s community is smaller, which can result in less information or documentation for new features. These points highlight the strengths of MySQL, backed by Oracle’s strong support, versus MariaDB, which continues to evolve as an open-source project.

How to Install MariaDB

To get started with MariaDB, the first step is to install it. Follow the steps below to install MariaDB on your computer.

• Download from the Official Website:
  Visit the official MariaDB website (https://mariadb.org/) and download the version that matches your operating system.

• Run the Installation Wizard:
  Execute the installer you downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

• Verify the Installation:
  Open the command line and enter mariadb --version to confirm that MariaDB has been installed successfully.

Since MariaDB’s usage is very similar to MySQL, I won’t go into detail about how to use it in this article. There is plenty of official documentation available, so please refer to it if needed and explore MariaDB at your own pace!

Conclusion

Although I haven’t explored MariaDB in depth yet, it appears to be a simple and user-friendly tool following in the footsteps of MySQL. People, especially those who have experience with MySQL, should find it easy to get started. If you’re interested in learning more about MariaDB, I encourage you to take advantage of the official documentation and tutorials.

Thank you for reading!