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Sun terrible place to work

MySQL co-founder walks
Thursday, 9 October 2008, 07:57

DAVID AXMARK, co-founder of MySQL, has quit Sun because the place is too big.

In his resignation letter, Axmark said he quit Sun Microsystems because he hates all the rules and hates having to break them to come up with anything interesting.

"I have thought about my role at Sun and decided that I am better off in smaller organisations," he wrote.

The letter ended up in Sun watcher Kaj Arnö's bog. Axmark added it would be far better for him to ‘retire’ from employment and work with MySQL and Sun on a less formal basis.

Axmark found himself behind a desk at Sun when the outfit bought MySQL in January for $1bn.

The other founder of MySQL, Monty Widenius, who was the primary architect of the original database, has also said he wants to walk.

Longtime head of MySQL's Japan business, Larry Stefonic, cleaned out his desk after five years with the outfit.

All up it looks like Sun is about to lose shedloads of MySQL experience because it does not want its workers to use colours that are not on the official list and allow creative people to draw outside the lines. µ

L'Inq
Kaj Arnö's bog

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Comments
title?

the fact that he doesn't like big companies and it's rules doesn't make Sun a bad place to work... the article's title is misleading

posted by : Phobos, 09 October 2008 Complain about this comment
Always happens with Sun

They're terrible at keeping people, who are the real assets behind the companies they splash out millions to buy.

This wouldn't be the first time Sun has bought a company, only to see its real assets walk away months later, leaving it with a worthless shell.

Unfortunately, Sun is not learning. I personally have worked at Sun (in R&D), and I found them to be one of the best employers I ever worked for. But I am no entrepreneur, and I guess you have to be flexible when you are dealing with these types.

posted by : Oliver, 09 October 2008 Complain about this comment
On the title

I think it's a pun. I wouldn't want to work on the Sun either.

posted by : David, 09 October 2008 Complain about this comment
SUN is Bankers System.

Sun is Made to be HARD to Understand, that makes Phising so much more safe, at least for experts.

Yet, for employee whom is being blamed for Jr. swipping two million card numbers, after hours, its night mare of blame or why didn't my crime work right. eg payout.

Constant impossibility of SUN is People Eater. Sun enables thieft for itself & has NO Need for insider who knows how it was done.
drashek

posted by : Banker, 09 October 2008 Complain about this comment
Agree with Phobos

Phobos, I agree. The title is misleading, but that's the point, really. Sun is a great place to work, but it sounds like Axmark just doesn't like rules. I like a guy like that. No mud slinging, just saying it like it is. He probably couldn't work for an IBM or a HP either. I hope he continues to contribute to MySQL though. It would be sad to lose his knowledge.

posted by : Billl, 09 October 2008 Complain about this comment
Sun is horrible

They give you these itty bitty little mirrored mouse pads and special mouses that shoot lasers that would burn your retina if you accidentally look at them, and as the weeks go by the mirror surface scratches away and you have less and less surface to mouse upon until finally you're down to your last square inch, and it's like what the hell? Who the hell needs this crap?
That's why I hate Sun, so I'd never work there but I'd sure recommend it to my enemies.

posted by : Grunchy, 09 October 2008 Complain about this comment
Manner

@phobos
the man is being polite.

you could learn more about manner . it can make the world a lot better place.
alot better than waging war on other people.

posted by : dmaster97, 10 October 2008 Complain about this comment
Sun is *NOT* Terrible!

Just because I've concluded that I don't feel comfortable in *any* big
organisation, dont draw conclusions on Sun.

I love that Sun is betting on Open Source for its main revenue, not
just as a side show (even if they have more work to do).

In fact, I actually liked Sun enough to try to work in such a large
company, in spite of my hatred of bureaucracy needed in *all* large
organizations.

posted by : David Axmark, 10 October 2008 Complain about this comment
not surprised

I don't think that this is a problem unique to sun. when small company's are acquired by larger ones, there are those that just can't cope. Some birds just aren't meant to be caged I guess.

posted by : Eric, 11 October 2008 Complain about this comment
Mr Axmark, is that really you?

You're great and all, but I think you might need to realise that The Inq is a "humour" news site. So I wouldn't take what's written on it without a pinch of salt.

Large organistations sometimes realise that their structure is holding them back, to they make a smaller subsidiary so they don't lose great people. They should do that for you.

Good luck and thanks for MySQL.

posted by : interested_party, 13 October 2008 Complain about this comment
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