MariaDB is a database server that offers drop-in replacement functionality for
MySQL1. MariaDB is built by some of the original authors of MySQL, with
assistance from the broader community of Free and open source software
developers. In addition to the core functionality of MySQL, MariaDB offers a
rich set of feature enhancements including alternate storage engines, server
optimizations, and patches.

MariaDB is primarily driven by developers at Monty Program, a company founded by
Michael "Monty" Widenius, the original author of MySQL, but this is not the
whole story about MariaDB. On the "About MariaDB" page you will find more
information about all participants in the MariaDB community, including storage
engines XtraDB and PBXT.

WWW: http://mariadb.org/