I’m curious about whether MySQL is still popular among developers and companies in 2024. I know it’s been around for quite a while now, and I’m wondering if it’s considered outdated technology or if people are still actively using it for their projects. Are there better alternatives that most developers have switched to, or does MySQL still hold its ground in the database world? I’m trying to decide what database technology to learn and would appreciate hearing about current industry trends and experiences from people who work with databases regularly.
MySQL’s performance is still top-notch. I’ve been optimizing databases for 8+ years and MySQL consistently crushes it when you set it up right. InnoDB handles concurrent transactions like a champ, and with good indexing, I’ve watched MySQL churn through millions of records without missing a beat. Last year I migrated a legacy app from Oracle to MySQL 8.0 - we slashed licensing costs AND got better query performance on several workloads. The built-in partitioning and improved optimizer handle complex stuff way better than older versions. Finding good MySQL DBAs is also way easier than with newer database tech, which is huge when you need production support.
Absolutely, MySQL’s everywhere. I’ve worked at three companies over the past four years - startups to enterprise - and every single one used MySQL. The ecosystem support is insane. AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL, Azure Database all offer managed MySQL services, which tells you everything about where it stands in the market. It’s not just riding on legacy either. MySQL 8.0 brought huge performance boosts and JSON document features that compete head-to-head with NoSQL. Truth is, relational databases handle most business logic just fine, and MySQL’s been around long enough that you won’t get nasty surprises in production. Learn MySQL and those SQL skills transfer to any relational database.
yeah, mysql’s still solid but don’t sleep on postgres. i’ve used both for 3 years and postgres handles complex queries way better. mysql works fine for most projects though, and you’ll have an easier time finding hosting and support when stuff breaks at 2am.
MySQL knowledge? Absolutely essential. I’ve hired developers for 5 years and MySQL shows up in about 70% of our job postings. Even companies running PostgreSQL or NoSQL still have old MySQL systems that need maintenance. There’s tons of existing MySQL installations out there, so demand stays constant for people who actually know how to use it. Here’s what’s funny - newer devs chase shiny tools like GraphQL and Redis but skip MySQL basics. That’s your opening right there. Show up with solid MySQL skills and you’ll stand out because you can jump into existing codebases immediately. No need for expensive database migrations.
MySQL is still huge, but here’s what nobody mentioned - the real pain isn’t picking the database, it’s managing all the integrations and workflows around it.
I’ve watched teams waste weeks building custom scripts to sync MySQL data with their CRM, update spreadsheets, send notifications when records change, or migrate data between environments. That’s where it gets messy.
Last month I automated our entire MySQL backup validation process. Instead of someone manually checking backups daily, I set up automated workflows that test the backup, verify data integrity, and send reports to Slack. Took 2 hours to build, saves 30 minutes every day.
You can connect MySQL to literally anything without writing code. Need to sync customer data to your email marketing tool when orders hit certain thresholds? Done. Want to automatically generate reports and email them weekly? Easy.
MySQL knowledge is definitely worth having, but pair it with proper automation tools and you’ll be way ahead of developers still doing everything manually.
MySQL is definitely still relevant in 2024. I’ve been a backend developer for 6 years and it’s one of the most common databases I see everywhere. Most established companies built their systems on MySQL and stick with it - it’s stable, well-documented, and handles most use cases perfectly. Sure, MongoDB and PostgreSQL have gotten popular for specific things, but MySQL’s reliability and huge ecosystem keep it competitive. WordPress, Drupal, and tons of web apps still run on it, which says a lot. If you’re just starting out, learn MySQL. You’ll run into it constantly in job interviews and real projects.