Key takeaways

  • Smarter Query Performance: New optimizer tools give you more precise control over how the database handles complex requests, ensuring your most important queries stay fast and consistent.
  • Easier Oracle Migrations: Added support for familiar Oracle functions like TO_NUMBER and TRUNC makes it much simpler to move your existing workloads to an open-source environment.
  • Freedom for Modern Data: Developers can now handle deeply nested JSON documents without structural limits, providing total flexibility for complex, document-style data modeling.
  • Clearer System Insights: Enhanced metadata tables offer better visibility into how your data is updated and managed, making troubleshooting and auditing a breeze.

We are excited to announce the General Availability of MariaDB Community Server 12.2. Building upon the major foundational changes introduced in the MariaDB Community Server 12.1, this version focuses on delivering smarter query optimization, deeper compatibility for migrations, and enhanced metadata visibility, ensuring MariaDB remains the most versatile open-source database for developers and DBAs alike.

As part of our quarterly rolling release cycle, MariaDB Community Server 12.2.2 GA represents the next step toward our upcoming Long-Term Support (LTS) release, version 12.3. We encourage all users to explore these new capabilities as we continue to refine the performance and stability of the 12.x series.

What’s New in MariaDB Community Server 12.2

Advanced Query Optimization and Control

The MariaDB optimizer continues to get smarter, reducing the need for manual tuning while providing more granular control when you need it most.

  • New Optimizer Hints: We’ve expanded our suite of optimizer hints to include [NO_]ROWID_FILTER and [NO_]INDEX_MERGE. These hints give DBAs the power to explicitly enable or disable specific access methods, ensuring consistent performance for critical queries.
  • Implicit Query Block Names: MariaDB 12.2 introduces support for implicit query block names, making it significantly easier to reference specific parts of a complex, nested query within optimizer hints.

Deeper Oracle Compatibility

MariaDB remains the leading choice for organizations looking to break free from proprietary database lock-in. This release further simplifies migrations from Oracle by adding support for widely used PL/SQL functions.

  • TO_NUMBER Function: Easily convert strings to numeric values using Oracle-compatible syntax.
  • TRUNC Function: Support for the TRUNC function has been implemented, allowing for the truncation of numbers and dates in a way that is consistent with Oracle environments.
  • MONTHS_BETWEEN Function: This function determines the number of months separating two specified dates.

Expanded JSON and Data Flexibility

Modern applications increasingly rely on JSON for flexible data modeling. MariaDB Community Server 12.2 removes previous architectural constraints to support even more complex data structures.

  • Unlimited JSON Depth: We have removed the previous limit of 32 levels for JSON functions. Developers can now process deeply nested JSON documents without fear of hitting structural limits, providing greater freedom for document-store use cases.

Enhanced Metadata and Diagnostics

Better visibility into the database schema and parameters helps developers build more robust applications and simplifies troubleshooting for administrators.

  • Information Schema Enhancements:
    • TRIGGERED_UPDATE_COLUMNS: A new table in the INFORMATION_SCHEMA provides visibility into which columns are modified by triggers, improving auditability.
    • PARAMETERS.PARAMETER_DEFAULT: The PARAMETERS table now includes a PARAMETER_DEFAULT column, making it easier to programmatically inspect the default values of stored procedure and function parameters.

MariaDB Community Server 12.2 GA is now available as part of our rolling release cycle. This model ensures that new features and enhancements reach the community faster. As we continue these quarterly updates leading toward our next Long-Term Support (LTS) version (12.3), we invite you to test these latest capabilities in your environments. Your feedback is essential in ensuring the stability and performance of the upcoming LTS release.

Download Community Server 12.2.2