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> Databases have always had FLOSS alternatives. Relational databases have had [technically] open-source alternatives from the beginning, you're right. But they
by peterwwillis 10y ago
> Databases have always had FLOSS alternatives.
Relational databases have had [technically] open-source alternatives from the beginning, you're right. But they were also always playing catch-up to commercial databases. Oracle supported SQL long before Ingres, making them the lead product at the very beginning, and their services and support (and superior marketing power) kept them at the forefront.
Corporate or military investment is usually what drives cutting edge technology, which is adopted by necessity.
> anybody on here want to work on some kind of innovative enterprise database startup? (I don't have any ideas, I just want to work on one because I see a lot of potential)
Find out what a huge corporate product is lacking, make that, and then get them to buy you.
- hackaflocka 10y ago(Why'd you delete the bit about "best HN pitch ever" -- that was hilarious). On your point about Military / Govt applications. This Larry biography: "The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison: *God Doesn't Think He's Larry Ellison" This book is an insanely amazing read. Apparently, the CIA was one of their first clients, and Oracle was named after a failed CIA project (the book hints that Larry might actually be CIA)
- peterwwillis 10y agoI don't know what position he might have held, but i've known people who worked for the intelligence community. Saying someone "is CIA" is like saying someone "is Boeing". It's just another corporation (often informally called the corporation)