Non-GPL library that can connect to a MySQL database?

Question

I'm looking for a C, C++, or Objective-C library that can connect to a MySQL database. I'm aware of libmysqlclient (GPL) and SQLAPI++ (non-GPL).

Are there any alternatives besides SQLAPI++ that can be included in a non-GPL project?

Answer 1

The MySQL C connector used to be LGPL (thus, allowing dynamic linking to proprietary code). Oracle has changed the license from LGPL to GPL starting from versions later than 3.23.58.

To use a LGPL connector therefore you have the following options:

• Use the old version (i.e. LGPL) of the MySQL connector: https://mariadb.com/kb/en/mariadb/lgpl-mysql-client-library-32358/
• Use the MariaDB connector (a fork of the old LGPL MySQL connector): https://mariadb.com/kb/en/mariadb/mariadb-connector-c/
• Use Qt's database drivers (which are LGPL and have connectors for databases): http://doc.qt.io/qt-4.8/sql-driver.html
• Use Libdrizzle: https://launchpad.net/libdrizzle

Answer 2

Try SOCI or POCO. Both are under the Boost Software License.

EDIT: Indeed you are right. And it seems you're in a hot spot and would have to buy a MySQL license, at least according to the following

GPL and libmysqlclient

About MySQL++, GPL and LGPL

MySQL licensing and GPL

Answer 3

iODBC is BSD-licensed, and provides an ODBC client implementation.

The user could then install the MySQL Connector/ODBC to interface with the MySQL server.