Why MySQL?

I've chosen MySQL as the database for my automated trading software - Thinking Stuff. If the licence fee for MySQL is 500 Euros, Why did I do that?

First, let's take a look at what I actually need in a database. I need it to handle a lot of data. To store tick data, it seems to take about 1.5Gb of space per 4 years of data per 1 currency. I'll probably want to keep an eye on about 10 currencies.

That immediately takes Microsoft Access out of the picture. It's maximum size is 2Gb (click on the "Access database" section).

It also takes out Microsoft's SQL Server Express. This product is to be released later this year for around $50 for per licence. Microsoft has limited the size of these databases to 4Gb.

Oracle is a step too far.

That essentially leaves Microsoft SQL Server (the standard edition as opposed to the "express" one), and MySQL.

The licence fees for these two products are essentially the same - 500 Euros for MySQL, and a touch over US$600 for SQL Server.

However, for private use, MySQL is free. While I'm developing the application, and if in fact I decide not to sell Thinking Stuff, there is no cost to me. So that's what I went with.

Of course, please leave a comment if you know of another product.