mySQL support in PHP5 Beta2?

renekosterman

Hello,

Doesn anybody know if mysql support wile be include in the second beta of PHP5.
The reason i ask this is because that the newest CVS's (php5b2) do have have mySQL support.

Thank you in advance.

Sxooter

PHP 5 will be able to link against the mysql connect libs, but will not INCLUDE them. This is because the MySQL 4.1 connect libs are GPL, not LGPL, and PHP is not compatibly licensed, from what I understand, and including the connect libs would thus "GPL" PHP, which Zend doesn't want.

csn

Any idea if mysql used to be LGPL (and hence the libs could be included in the past)?

Sxooter

Yes, it was in the older versions.

This slick little marketing move of theirs to force people to buy commercial licenses may well backfire. Technically, if you compile PHP against the new MySQL, you HAVE to have a commercial license, since the two suites (PHP and MySQL) have incompatible licensing. I.e. if you compile MySQL against PHP you are violating PHP's licensing terms because it can't be GPL'd, and you're technically GPLing it when you link against it.

csn

Ah, trying to play like SCO, MS, et al. This only appiles to people who distribute mysql and/or its libs. Joe Blow user can compile and use php/mysql however he likes as long as he doesn't distribute it to others.

Sxooter

Probably. But imagine you're setting up a web site for somebody. If you install PHP and MySQL for them, is that legal?

csn

If I understand the GPL and LGPL as well as I think I do 😉, there shouldn't be any problem in that case. I haven't read up on PHP's license.

The problem would be for people like php.net and others who publicly distribute their own sofware and want to bundle in mysql or its libs. GPL states your software must become GPL'd in this case. But if you don't publicly distribute your software, you can use GPL software however you like.

GPL FAQ