“MySQL open source” refers to the free Community Edition of the MySQL server and its CLI tools (mysql, mysqldump) that let you create, query, and administer databases without a commercial license.
MySQL Community Edition includes the mysqld server, the mysql shell, and utilities like mysqldump—all released under GPL. You can install them on macOS, Linux, or Windows without a license fee.
Linux users run sudo apt install mysql-server
or sudo yum install mysql-server
. macOS users leverage Homebrew: brew install mysql
.Windows users download the MSI installer from mysql.com.
Start the daemon with sudo systemctl start mysqld
(Linux) or mysql.server start
(macOS). Immediately run mysql_secure_installation
to set the root password, remove test databases, and disable anonymous users.
Use mysql -u user -p [db_name] -h host -P port --ssl-mode=REQUIRED
.If db_name
is omitted, you’ll land in the shell and USE db;
later.
Run mysql < schema.sql
where schema.sql
defines Customers
, Orders
, Products
, and OrderItems
. Autocompletion in the shell speeds up DDL entry.
Dump with mysqldump -u user -p ecommerce > ecommerce.sql
. Restore via mysql -u user -p ecommerce < ecommerce.sql
. Add --single-transaction
for consistent hot backups.
Use --quick
with mysqldump to stream rows, and --hex-blob
for binary columns.Enable innodb_file_per_table
and tune innodb_buffer_pool_size
in my.cnf
.
Migrate if you need advanced SQL features (CTEs, window functions) or stricter ACID compliance. Use pgloader
for a minimal-downtime migration from MySQL.
Pin to a specific minor version, automate nightly dumps, enable binary logging, monitor with mysqladmin status
, and limit root login to localhost.
.
Yes, it is GPL-licensed and free for commercial or personal use. Enterprise add-ons require a subscription.
Install the Enterprise binaries over your existing data directory. Always back up first, then run mysql_upgrade.
Use pgloader with the --with data, schema, constraints
flags to copy both schema and rows while transforming MySQL types.