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How to Use MariaDB for Oracle Compatibility


MariaDB Server 10.3 introduces Oracle compatibility, allowing users to utilize Oracle PL/SQL and Oracle sequences in an open source database. This makes it easier for DBAs and developers to migrate and/or reuse database code.

In a recent DBTA webinar Dr. Alexander Bienemann, migration practice manager, MariaDB Corporation, and Wagner Bianchi, Principal Remote DBA for MariaDB Corporation, described the Oracle PL/SQL syntax supported, including cursors, data types, functions, loops, packages and stored procedures.

The two biggest reasons to migrate include changes in the IT industry and changes in open source and MariaDB, Bienemann explained.

Migrations have also become easier than ever. Features for cost-effective migration include:

  • Common Table Expressions, CTE’s
    • Convenient aliases for subqueries
    • Recursive SQL queries
    • Introduced in MariaDB 10.2
  • Window Functions
    • NTILE, RANK, DENSE_RANK, …
    • For analytic purposes, convenient handling of query result sets
    • Introduced in MariaDB 10.2
  • Native PL/SQL parsing
    • Direct execution of native Oracle procedures
    • Introduced in MariaDB 10.3

Examples of migration projects include:

  • Oracle:

– Banking

– Financials / investment

– E-Procurement

– Trading, retail

– Repair services

– Business software

– Telecommunications

  • Sybase / Transact-SQL:

– Insurance

  • MySQL:

– all industries covered

MariaDB can help companies migrate faster and more successfully, Bianchi said.

The platform can ensure a precise, non-biased, externally objective analysis of applications, minimize the risk of wrong planning and non-purposeful activities, ensure a purposeful, straightforward procedure, and prioritization of migration steps, provide a cost estimation for actual migration steps, and Benefit from the broad experience and deep technical insight of MariaDB consultants, comprising knowledge in both MariaDB as well as legacy DBMS, e.g. Oracle, Sybase, SQL Server.

An archived on-demand replay of this webinar is available here.


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