Open-source database users can expect the final version of MySQL 5.1 to be ready for general availability in a few weeks, after Sun Microsystems makes sure any major bugs have been squashed.

"We're just drilling into a couple more areas, just to double-check. My expectation is that that will be GA in the next couple of weeks," said Zack Urlocker, vice president of products for Sun's Database Group.

The general availability date for MySQL 5.1 has slipped as developers have sought to iron out the wrinkles. In April at the MySQL Conference & Expo in Santa Clara, Calif., Sun officials said the open-source database would be ready within weeks of the show. However, the process of fixing bugs before declaring it ready has taken longer than expected, prompting some in the blogosphere to prod the MySQL community to get more involved.

"A few weeks ago [MySQL's original author] Monty Widenius asked MySQL developers to help the company decide whether MySQL 5.1 is ready for GA or not," said Matt Aslett, an analyst with The 451 Group. "Clearly the company got its fingers burned with both the general release of 5.0 and the release candidate of 5.1 and is nervous about repeating its mistakes. The fact that MySQL felt the need to publicly ask the question would suggest that either it is not confident the bug reporting process has done its job or it is being overly cautious."

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