Oracle Promises ‘New Era’ for MySQL Amid Growing Community Pressure

After criticism over development pace and transparency, the tech giant signals a reset for its flagship open-source database

Oracle Corporation has pledged a “decisive new approach” to MySQL, the widely used open-source database it has owned since acquiring Sun Microsystems in 2009. The announcement comes after mounting criticism from developers and long-time users who questioned Oracle’s commitment to the platform’s future.

In a recent blog post, Oracle said MySQL now has new engineering leadership and a clear roadmap for 2026 and beyond. The move follows concerns about a slowdown in development activity and reduced transparency, which led influential community members to explore the possibility of creating an independent fork of the database.

Frederic Descamps, MySQL Community Manager at Oracle, outlined a three-part strategy aimed at rebuilding trust. The company plans to introduce more developer-focused features into the open-source Community Edition, expand tools and frameworks for users, and increase transparency around development plans.

“We will be publishing the development roadmap and facilitating contributions from the community,” Descamps said, adding that Oracle wants broader participation in shaping MySQL’s future.

The company has also indicated it may move certain features previously reserved for commercial versions into the Community Edition, including vector functions seen as important for artificial intelligence workloads.

For Oracle, the message is clear: it wants to repair relationships and reassure users that MySQL remains a strategic priority. As debate grows within the developer community about governance and direction, Oracle is positioning itself to rebuild confidence and retain control, at a critical moment for the database’s future.