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MySQL 8.0 End-of-Life Looms: A Cautionary Tale for Database Administrators
As the clock ticks away, MySQL 8.0 is on a path towards end-of-life, leaving database administrators with six months to migrate their instances to supported versions or face security and reliability risks. This article delves into the context of MySQL's declining popularity, its impending doom, and the implications for those affected by this development.
More than half of MySQL instances still running on version 8.0, set to lose support by April 30, 2026. 58% of MySQL and MariaDB instances are running MySQL 8.0, while 18.8% are running version 5.7. MySQL's decline can be attributed to the rise of other database management systems like PostgreSQL and MariaDB. Oracle's decision to reduce investment in open-source MySQL has sparked concerns about reduced support. Migrating from MySQL 8.0 to a supported version is crucial for compliance with security and reliability standards.
The clock is ticking for MySQL 8.0 as end-of-life looms on the horizon. According to Percona, a provider of open-source database support services and Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS), more than half of its MySQL instances are still running on version 8.0, which is set to lose support by April 30, 2026. This raises serious concerns about security and reliability risks for those who fail to migrate their instances to supported versions.
The data from PMM, Percona's open-source database management tool, reveals that a staggering 58% of MySQL and MariaDB instances are running MySQL 8.0, while 18.8% are running version 5.7, which has already gone out of support in 2023. This trend is indicative of MySQL's declining popularity, which has been steadily eroding since its peak in the early 2000s.
MySQL's decline can be attributed to several factors, including the rise of other database management systems like PostgreSQL and MariaDB. These newer systems have gained significant traction among developers and organizations due to their improved performance, scalability, and security features. Furthermore, MySQL's inability to keep pace with the evolving landscape of database technologies has also contributed to its decline.
One notable example is the recent decision by Oracle to reduce investment in open-source MySQL, resulting in widespread layoffs in the MySQL engineering team. This move has sparked concerns among users that Oracle may be reducing support for the system, which would further exacerbate the security and reliability risks associated with running older versions of MySQL.
The implications of this development are far-reaching and can have significant consequences for organizations that fail to migrate their instances to supported versions. For instance, the upgrade process from MySQL 8.0 to 8.4, the most recent stable version, is not as daunting as the upgrade from version 5.7 to 8.0. While it's true that migrating to newer versions can be a complex and time-consuming process, it's essential to acknowledge that this is a small price to pay compared to the risks associated with running unsupported versions of MySQL.
In light of these developments, it's crucial for database administrators to take proactive steps to migrate their instances to supported versions. This not only ensures compliance with security and reliability standards but also helps prevent potential data breaches and system downtime. Moreover, this move can be seen as a strategic investment in the long-term viability and performance of MySQL.
Percona co-founder Peter Zaitsev emphasizes the importance of upgrading from MySQL 8.0 to 8.4, stating that "every piece of complex software has bugs which may not have been found yet. Some of those bugs are also security bugs." He further notes that users who choose not to migrate their instances face the risk of "not having those bugs fixed anymore," highlighting the potential consequences of inaction.
In conclusion, MySQL 8.0's impending end-of-life serves as a stark reminder for database administrators to take proactive steps towards migration and upgrade. The stakes are high, but with careful planning and execution, organizations can ensure compliance with security and reliability standards while investing in their long-term database infrastructure.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/MySQL-80-End-of-Life-Looms-A-Cautionary-Tale-for-Database-Administrators-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/10/31/mysql_8_support_end/
https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/31/mysql_8_support_end/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-clocks-ticking-for-mysql-80-as-end-of-life-looms/ar-AA1Pzjwl
Published: Fri Oct 31 08:08:02 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
