Top ideas in the MariaDB-Python hackathon

As we blogged last week, the ideation phase of the MariaDB-Python hackathon ended with a heap of ideas. Due to the sheer mass, we had a tough time evaluating suitable ideas and teams for the development phase.

Now that we have proceeded to the development phase, we are really looking forward to seeing all short-listed ideas materialize to code! Let’s take a look at a few ideas from each track that stood out of the crowd.

A short recap: the hackathon is about Making MariaDB easier to use by two approaches, reflected by the two tracks: Integrations and Innovations

From Vision to Action: Strengthening the MariaDB Foundation Board – Welcome, Frank Karlitschek!

Strengthening the Board with industry leaders is a key goal for the MariaDB Foundation in 2025 – and beyond.

At the MariaDB Foundation, we believe that leadership in open source isn’t just about code — it’s about courage, community, and conviction. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that Frank Karlitschek, founder and CEO of Nextcloud, has joined the MariaDB Foundation Board.

This is more than a new appointment — it’s a signal of where we’re heading as a Foundation: towards deeper collaboration with open-source and database pioneers who share our European values and our vision for digital independence.

Impressive stats from ideation phase of Bengaluru Python hackathon, now closed

The ideation phase of the MariaDB-Python Hackathon wrapped up on Sunday — and the response was phenomenal!

A huge thanks to everyone who joined the journey: from the BangPypers’ meetup announcement to the AMA webinars, from registration on HackerEarth to the final idea submissions — your creativity and energy made this phase a success!

We have been evaluating idea submissions as they have dropped in, with a final big push now after the deadline – we even brought AI into the loop to help out. The deadline was extended by a few days by popular demand, and to accommodate the local Indian holidays. 

Launching the State of MariaDB 2025 survey

We want to know how you’re really using MariaDB. Not the marketing version. Not the idealized case study. The real story—what you’re building, what tools you’re using, what’s working, and what’s frustrating.

So we built a survey. Take the survey now, or read on.

Why This Matters

Your responses will help shape:

  • ⁠MariaDB roadmap priorities
  • ⁠⁠Documentation and tutorials
  • ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tooling development
  • ⁠⁠⁠A public report on how MariaDB is actually being used in 2025

After running pilots, we’re genuinely excited about the insights we are uncovering.

When Oracle Drops the Ball: Why MariaDB is the Future of the MySQL World

The news has circulated quietly in industry corners, but the implications are far too significant to brush aside: Oracle seems to have ended the Open Source era of MySQL.

I am not a spokesperson for Oracle, yet the signs are unmistakable. Entire teams associated with MySQL at Oracle have been dissolved, spanning engineering, development and sales. On LinkedIn, I’ve received a wave of messages from former colleagues — both long-time MySQL veterans and those who joined Oracle years after MariaDB was founded in 2009.

The impression is clear: Oracle has made a rational business decision to pivot towards AI and cloud, where MySQL only matters insofar as it strengthens OCI and Heatwave.

Success Story: zvoove Switzerland AG – From Legacy Systems to Scalable Solutions with MariaDB

Phillippe Balzli, CTO at zvoove Switzerland AG, shared in an interview with Kaj Arnö of MariaDB Foundation how the company navigated legacy software, rapid growth, and evolving customer needs – all with the help of MariaDB.

Who is zvoove?

zvoove Switzerland AG is a Swiss-based software company that provides tailored solutions for personnel service providers. The company has evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from M&D Computers to backoffice, and finally to zvoove Switzerland AG. Current CTO Phillippe Balzli took over leadership in 2023, continuing the company’s journey toward modern, scalable infrastructure built on MariaDB.

MariaDB and AI: Building the Bridge That Really Matters

Not what AI can do for MariaDB – but what MariaDB can do for AI

I have hinted at this before (This Month in MariaDB – August 2025), but it deserves to be said again: our vision for MariaDB’s role in AI is both clear and ambitious. We do not simply want to participate in the AI space – we aim to be the bridge between real-world data and modern AI systems.

Large Language Models are, at their core, vast read-only neural networks. The data that organisations truly depend upon does not reside inside these models;

MariaDB Bangalore Hackathon: Ideation Phase Closing

The final days are here for the Foundation’s first large-scale hackathon, the MariaDB Python Hackathon we’re organising in partnership with BangPypers (the Bangalore Python Meetup, a group with about 14,000 members) and HackerEarth (a Hackathon organiser). Do come with your final submissions of ideas at mariadb-python.hackerearth.com within the next two days – in October, it’s development time!

The magnitude is new for MariaDB Foundation

Already, we’re quite proud of the results. Last Wednesday, I reported to the MariaDB Foundation Board meeting that we have over 3,000 registered individuals and 250 team idea submissions.