SELECT * FROM mysql WHERE version=5;

MySQL 5 has been released. While the die-hards are fast to point out what's still missing I find it striking that MySQL is becoming more and more complete. I don't know if it's fair to call it "growing up".

I compiled a brief list of the most important (IMHO) new features introduced in version 4.0, 4.1 and now 5.0. Considering the userbase of version 3.23 (all the Woody-boxes out there, for a start) and that MySQL-bindings are almost everywhere (from a FLOSS-perspective at least), I congratulate MySQL AB to the release and predict that MySQL will serve many users in the coming years (dude, you're so smart).

It's not a one-solution-fits-all though so don't miss out on PostgreSQL and Firebird as well.

5.0:
Stored procedures
Triggers
Views

4.1
Subqueries
Utf8

4.0:
ACID transactions with InnoDB as backend
SQL UNION