Database company MariaDB recovers its offshoot SkySQL, which had previously separated.
MariaDB plc, a leading company in database technology and cloud offerings, has announced the acquisition of SkySQL, a move that will significantly enhance its product portfolio and customer offerings.
Originally spun off from MariaDB in 2023, SkySQL has made a name for itself as the sole provider of the SkySQL Database-as-a-Service offering, a cloud-based version of the MariaDB database. The company was founded with the goal of providing Oracle MySQL users dissatisfied with Oracle's handling of the database product with an alternative service.
The acquisition is a strategic investment in MariaDB's customers and a crucial step in building a comprehensive, modern, and globally leading database platform. Rohit de Souza, the CEO of MariaDB plc, attributes the change of direction to increased customer expectations for flexibility and powerful, reliable database solutions.
SkySQL's acquisition brings more than just the addition of the SkySQL Database-as-a-Service platform to MariaDB. The company also gains access to SkySQL's innovative "SkyAI Agents", AI features that allow developers to interact with their data in natural language instead of writing SQL queries. These SkyAI Agent features will be available in MariaDB Cloud in the future.
Michael 'Monty' Widenius, the main author of MySQL, was behind the MariaDB project. The database, a fork of MySQL, is designed for high availability, performance, and scalability, and is used for business-critical applications in various sectors like finance, e-commerce, and telecommunications. The MariaDB Enterprise Server supports both transactional and analytical workloads.
The integration of the SkySQL platform aims to provide customers with more flexibility and powerful, reliable database solutions in various deployment options, including on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments. The SkySQL Database-as-a-Service platform is based on the Kubernetes orchestration manager for containerized software environments and integrates with numerous cloud infrastructures.
The repurchased subsidiary, SkySQL, will bring its talented team back to the company, including the staff who developed the SkySQL Database-as-a-Service platform and the SkyAI Agents. The acquisition accelerates MariaDB's plans and brings additional innovations to MariaDB Cloud.
SkyAI Agents are designed to minimize inaccurate answers and are integrated into SkySQL's built-in vector database, making it easier for developers to use unstructured data for AI applications. The integration of these AI features into MariaDB Cloud is expected to revolutionize the way developers interact with their data.
In summary, the acquisition of SkySQL by MariaDB plc is a significant step forward in the company's mission to provide flexible, powerful, and reliable database solutions to its customers. The integration of the SkySQL Database-as-a-Service platform and the SkyAI Agents into MariaDB Cloud is expected to make MariaDB a leading player in the modern database market.
