Tuck agrees. "[There's a] vast talent pool to choose from, both on the development side and the support side. Every developer who is just starting out can and probably will start development with MySQL. Even an experienced Windows admin can deploy it and start learning it, and never have to invest a penny to find out what all the fuss is about."

There is another aspect to the simplicity of MySQL that IT managers like: It runs fast. Some say that MySQL's feature list leaves something to be desired, but its fans swear that a scaled-down feature set means you only have to deploy, configure and maintain what you need. "For simple schemas with competent DBAs, MySQL is blindingly fast," says Jeff Schroeder, systems administrator for Ticketmaster. There's nothing superfluous to bog down the CPU or hog RAM. If you need something extra, MySQL's ubiquitous nature practically ensures you can find a vendor to provide the exact solution, and only the solution, you need.

It Has Low TCO
MySQL is owned by MySQL AB, but the software is open source, with a community version available for free download. Bootstrappers with a little technical know-how can get MySQL set up and configured on commodity hardware at very low cost. (MySQL's modest hardware requirement is among its best-known strengths, with one caveat: The more RAM the better, since all live data storage is done in memory.) A free database means that more of that precious startup capital is available for other business launch elements like marketing, advertising, or research and development.

Even with the commercial Enterprise version, there are no up-front licensing costs, which means lower capital outlay—much lower, when you compare it to big-gun proprietary databases like Oracle and Microsoft , whose per-CPU license costs run anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000. MySQL Enterprise support and maintenance cost less too, with savings from $2,000 to $5,000 annually. Whether you're funding a startup from your back pocket or you can call on a big venture capitalist, MySQL use will result in lower payroll costs, as mentioned above, because it is easier to learn, deploy, administer and maintain.

For established businesses, it can make sense to migrate to MySQL. When it is time to replace old hardware, eliminating legacy systems for lean and mean commodity looks attractive to the accounting department. MySQL deploys quickly, so the transition process won't grind productivity to a halt. And once again, a reduced learning curve means your admins will be up to speed on MySQL in no time. Plus, its easy maintenance and administration mean the current staff will able to handle an expanded shop floor, which translates into more bang for your buck on paydays, even when the company continues to grow.