With the release of MariaDB 11.6, the MariaDB Foundation has announced the public preview of Vector search for the open-source fork of the MySQL engine. Database experts and open-source advocates see vector support as an opportunity for MariaDB to lead the MySQL ecosystem, especially since Oracle reserves most new features for its enterprise editions only.

According to the announcement, a feature complete MariaDB 11.6 Vector Edition is expected to be released within a few months, with vector functionality fully available on MariaDB 11.7 and beyond. Unlike MySQL 9.0 which currently offers a new vector type without Indexes, MariaDB does not yet provide a dedicated data type but has introduced dedicated indexes and the functions VEC_ToText and VEC_FromText, a new option for storing vectors.

The vector search implementation is based on the industry standard HNSW algorithm and the new MariaDB Vector, a storage engine for LLMs demoed at FOSDEM earlier this year, is on its way to becoming part of the standard MariaDB server. Kaj Arnö, CEO of the MariaDB Foundation, writes:

What makes us different from the Vector support in MySQL Server – called Heatwave – is that we have vector search as Open Source. In fact, unlike MySQL, we still lack a separate Vector data type, but we will add it before the full release.

Peter Zaitsev, founder at Percona and advocate for open source, comments:

This project is clearly still developing but it already highlights a crucial advantage where MariaDB surpasses Oracle MySQL – Vector Search. It will be interesting to see how Oracle responds. Will this push Oracle to enhance Vector Search in the MySQL Community edition, or has Oracle lost interest in maintaining the relevance of its Open Source version for today’s developers?

Arnö adds:

Our focus is to assist not only MariaDB Server users but also those using MySQL Server, providing them with straightforward Open Source access to Vector features. We’ve consistently emphasized how easy it is to switch from MySQL Server to MariaDB Server, and incorporating Vector functionality presents yet another compelling reason to make the shift.

The development of vector search capabilities is a joint effort between the staff at MariaDB plc, the MariaDB Foundation, and various other contributors, including significant input from AWS, a new major backer of MariaDB.

As generative AI applications increase in popularity, many relational database systems, including MariaDB, are exploring vector search functionalities. According to InfoQ, both Google and AWS have already integrated this technology into their managed RDBMS products. Moreover, Oracle’s first initiative in this area is seen with MySQL 9.0 supporting vector search. Last year, PlanetScale also declared its plan to fork MySQL to introduce vector search.

While the variety of vector search options is applauded by many developers, a user named nhatnv comments on Reddit:

Unless dealing with data on the scale of billions, the necessity for numerous vector database solutions seems minimal.

In the article “How Fast Is MariaDB Vector?“, Sergei Golubchik, chief architect at MariaDB plc, explores the speed of the new vector feature in comparison with other vector databases utilizing the ann-benchmarks suite.

Although it is still in alpha stage, there are no complete binary packages available yet. Instead, a container image that supports vector search with CPU optimizations is accessible on Quay.io.

Welcome to DediRock, your trusted partner in high-performance hosting solutions. At DediRock, we specialize in providing dedicated servers, VPS hosting, and cloud services tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses and individuals alike. Our mission is to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure hosting solutions that empower our clients to achieve their digital goals. With a commitment to exceptional customer support, cutting-edge technology, and robust infrastructure, DediRock stands out as a leader in the hosting industry. Join us and experience the difference that dedicated service and unwavering reliability can make for your online presence. Launch our website.