MariaDB 12.1.2 Rolling Release released
The MariaDB 12.1.2 rolling release is now available. It brings some tangible improvements under its belt. Performance has been boosted via two main avenues: new features in the Aria storage engine, like a segmented key cache, and general optimizations. The Aria change allows users to set up segments for data caching; you can choose how many you need. By default it's 1 segment, but there's no limit higher than that.
Parallel replication is another big win, especially within Galera Cluster setups. It helps speed things along between two clusters thanks to a new variable: wsrep_applier_retry_count.
Beyond making MariaDB run faster, the release adds useful compatibility touches. For example, it includes MySQL's caching_sha2_password authentication plugin, easing connections with other systems.
SQL itself gets stronger, too. Associative arrays are now a first-class feature, meaning you can declare and use them directly in queries; something that was previously only experimental is now standard stuff. This opens up new ways to handle data.
There's also smarter handling of user accounts. Dropping a user won't be as blunt as before; MariaDB 12.1.2 will flag it if there are active sessions, preventing unexpected disruption (in Oracle mode this might even stop the operation altogether). It makes database operations smoother and safer.
Don't forget some smaller usability boosts either. The mysqldump command now supports wildcards more effectively using options like -L. Plus, functional indexes within GROUP and ORDER BY clauses are enhanced, letting your queries perform better still.
And for fine-tuning MariaDB's inner workings, the release introduces a few new system variables. One notable one is optimizer_record_context, which now provides extra detail in its trace output, including definitions for tables and views, making debugging easier by adding helpful context clues where you need them most.
MariaDB 12.1.2 rolling release now available
The MariaDB Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of MariaDB 12.1.2, the latest stable rolling release. MariaDB 12.1.2 features performance enhancements, deeper MySQL and Oracle compatibility, and other general improvements. … Continue reading "MariaDB 12.1.2 rolling release now available"
