---
title: Are startups ignoring DB2, Oracle in favor of MySQL, MS SQLServer?
date: 2006-01-12T21:58:03Z
modified: 2006-01-12T21:58:03Z
permalink: "https://redmonk.com/jgovernor/are-startups-ignoring-db2-oracle-in-favor-of-mysql-ms-sqlserver/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 450
categories:
  - Uncategorized
timestamp: 2006-01-12T21:58:03Z
tags:
  - Uncategorized
---

Here are some intriguing numbers about developer intentions:

> Database usage – SQLServer 64% versus MySQL 36%, interestingly, no Oracle or DB2. Start-ups are more cost sensitive than larger enterprises so it is not too surprising that there were no Oracle or DB2 users.
> 
> Development Tools – 28% Microsoft.Net, 22% Java, 13% C/C++, 37% Other

I was not at the Insight Venture Partners event that came up with the numbers above, and bear in mind they were [reported by Don Dodge](http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/01/software_develo.html), a Microsoft employee, but I am still interested in what they might mean. 



I am very surprised there was no Derby, Postgres, or Sleepycat or any other databases targeted by the developers polled, the 64/36 split is too convenient. Of course, it might have been a self-selecting audience: perhaps Insight only invited MySQL or MS SQLServer devs… maybe there were only ten people there? But there were apparently some Java developers in the house.



Perhaps the numbers tell us more about VC firms and the ideas they are currently pushing.



From 1995 to 2000 venture capital firms effectively acted as Oracle, EMC and Cisco resellers. Pretty much every dotcom funded would get cash to pay for infrastructure from these vendors, for advertising, and for salaries. The VCs, rather than the startup, chose the infrastructure. This is like lines of business choosing infrastructure… not always a great idea. It was nice for the vendors in question though, obviously. 



Fast forward to 2006. Open source and software as a service are the order of the day. On an anectodal basis I would say when me or Stephen have talked to startups recently DB2 and Oracle aren’t exactly top of mind. I am sure IBM and Oracle can come up with all kinds of evidence to show they are the hot target for startups in 2006. Feel free to post it here.