Oracle has unveiled MySQL 5.5 release candidate, an open-source database, which is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), with enhancements in performance and scalability, availability and usability.

The MySQL 5.5 release candidate improves the performance and scalability of applications across multiple operating environments, including Windows, Linux, and Mac.

The MYSQL 5.5 enhancements include improved performance and scalability to provide performance and scalability when running on the multi-CPU and multi-core hardware and operating systems.

The higher availability enhancement has new semi-synchronous replication, which improves failover reliability and helps improve data integrity.

The replication enables faster detection, diagnosis and correction of synchronisation issues, improving the reliability and availability of data by reducing the risk and impact of synchronisation issues.

The open-source data base improved index and table partitioning enable RANGE and LIST partitions to be defined on date, datetime, varchar, and char columns, which simplifies and extends MySQL and adds flexibility to indexing and query tuning, the company said.

The enhanced diagnostics, including a new ERFORMANCE_SCHEMA, provide low-level diagnostics on MySQL server performance statistics, allowing DBAs to pinpoint resource-intensive processes and events, streamlining efforts and helping to enhance their productivity.