Migration from Informix to MySQL
MySQL is the world’s most popular open source database. Migrating from Informix to MySQL provides the following benefits:
Business benefits:
- Reduce security & compliance risk: MySQL continuously delivers advanced security capabilities to meet the latest data protection and regulatory requirements including GDPR, DISA STIG, PCI DSS. IBM outsourced development and support of Informix to HCL/Actian forcing customers to rely on a 3rd party for bug fixes and security patches.
- Faster time to market: Companies are using MySQL, open source technologies, and modern development languages to improve agility and bring modern applications to market faster.
- 90% TCO Savings: MySQL’s simple, affordable, and transparent server-based subscription model delivers a 90% TCO savings over Informix. Informix is cost-prohibitive for modern database applications.
Technical benefits:
- MySQL roadmap and innovation: The MySQL Roadmap is aggressively delivering new capabilities for our customers. IBM outsourced the development and support of Informix to HCL/Actian making it clear that Informix is no longer a part of IBM’s future product roadmap.
- Developers choose MySQL: MySQL’s ease of use, high-performance, and reliability make it one of the most popular databases for developers. Developers do not choose Informix, and it is becoming increasing difficult to hire developers with Informix skills.
- Robust open source ecosystem: The world’s most popular open source products including WordPress, Drupal Apache, Tomcat, JBoss, Joomla, Grafana, Hibernate, SQLAlchemy and hundreds more support MySQL. Informix is not supported by any modern open source applications.
MySQL: The World's Most Popular Open Source Database
MySQL is the world's most popular open source database because of its reliability, high-performance, and ease of use. MySQL combines the benefits of a widely adopted open source database with high quality, 24x7 support, training and consulting services delivered by Oracle, the world's leader in database technology. As a result, MySQL users benefit from both a strong ecosystem, with millions of users, as well as the backing of the world's leading database company that has the proven ability to support its customers' mission critical database applications worldwide.
According to DB-Engines, MySQL is the world's most popular open source database. In fact, the world's #1 and #2 most popular databases are developed at Oracle. On the other hand, Informix is ranked #34 in the DB Engines list.
MySQL is Open Source and Ubiquitous
MySQL is the world’s most popular open source database and the “M” in the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL PHP/Perl/Python). LAMP is a proven technology stack used by the most popular Web sites in the world including Facebook, Booking, Twitter, Shopify, Square, and Uber.
IBM acquired Informix in 2001, since then its market share has collapsed. Informix is not as widely deployed, nor as ubiquitous, nor as highly rated as MySQL.
MySQL is Developed and Backed by the Oracle MySQL Engineering Team
Oracle develops, maintains, and supports MySQL. The MySQL Product Roadmap is controlled and defined by MySQL Engineering & Product Management, in concert with MySQL Support, MySQL Customers, and users.
Informix is no longer developed and maintained by IBM. In April 2017, IBM outsourced development and support of Informix to HCL/Actian.
MySQL for Modern Web, SaaS and Cloud Applications
MySQL continues to be the choice for modern database applications including Web, SaaS, and Cloud applications. Some of the world’s most trafficked applications rely on MySQL proving it can meet the most demanding performance and scalability requirements. For example:
- Web (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
- E-commerce (Booking, Airbnb, Uber, Shopify)
- FinTech (Square)
- Banking (JPMC, BankAmerica, Wells Fargo)
Informix has no reference customers for any modern Web or SaaS applications. Companies are migrating from Informix to MySQL for their Web, SaaS, and Cloud applications. Informix does not meet the needs of organizations that require a cost-effective, easy to use and scalable database solution.
MySQL is Supported by Popular Open Source Applications
The world’s most popular open source products including WordPress, Drupal Apache, Tomcat, JBoss, Joomla, Grafana, Hibernate, SQLAlchemy and hundreds more support MySQL. Companies are using MySQL and modern open source products to deploy flexible and agile IT infrastructures.
Informix is not supported by most modern open source application.
MySQL is Supported by All Modern Development Language
MySQL gives developers the freedom to develop applications using the language of their choice including PHP/Perl/Python, Ruby, C, C++, C#, Java, .Net, as well as Go, Rust, and NodeJS.
Informix is not supported by new languages (e.g. Go, Rust, NodeJS).
MySQL for Developers
According to the StackOverflow Developer Survey, MySQL is one of the most popular database among developers. This is a result of the MySQL’s ease of use, high-performance, and reliability.
Informix is not ranked in the list of the 35 most popular databases for developers. It’s becoming increasing difficult to hire developers with Informix experience.
MySQL for Kubernetes and Microservices Applications
MySQL is a popular database for modern microservices and cloud native applications. The MySQL Operator for Kubernetes is an operator for managing MySQL high availability environments inside a Kubernetes Cluster. It manages the full lifecycle with set up and maintenance that includes automating upgrades and backup.
Informix is not supported in the Kubernetes ecosystem.
HeatWave for Machine Learning, Lakehouse, and GenAI with MySQL
HeatWave delivers automated and integrated generative AI and machine learning (ML) in one cloud service for transactions and lakehouse scale analytics. Deploy HeatWave in your choice of public clouds: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure.
Informix does not have support for in-database Machine Learning, GenAI, or Lakehouse.
MySQL is Ubiquitous in the Cloud
MySQL is the most popular databases for cloud applications. Every cloud provider offers a fully managed MySQL service. HeatWave, Oracle’s fully managed cloud service for OLTP, OLAP, ML, and GenAI is available in AWS, Azure, OCI and in your own data center with OCI Dedicated Region.
Informix is not available as a fully managed database service by any of the popular cloud providers.
MySQL Continuous Investment and Innovation
The MySQL Engineering Team at Oracle continuously innovates MySQL with new features, bug fixes, and security fixes. The MySQL release model provides Innovation Releases for developers that want access to the latest features, improvements, and changes. MySQL LTS (Long Term Support) releases provide a stable set of features backed by Oracle Lifetime Support.
Informix faces product obsolescence risk. Informix is no longer developed and supported by IBM. In April 2017, IBM outsourced development and support to HCL/Actian.
MySQL for Security and Compliance
The MySQL development roadmap continuously adds security capabilities to meet the latest data protection and regulatory requirements, including GDPR, DISA STIG, PCI DSS. All MySQL releases include bug and security fixes and are considered production-grade quality.
Informix is no longer developed and maintained by IBM. Customers are dependent on a 3rd party for development, security fixes and support of Informix. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2024 is $4.88 million.
MySQL Delivers 90% TCO Savings
MySQL is a cost-effective, open source alternative to Informix. MySQL’s simple, affordable, and transparent server-based subscription model delivers a 90% TCO savings over Informix.
Informix has complex, opaque pricing making it cost-prohibitive for modern database applications.