4 lessons
What is MySQL, and why does it exist?
The history of MySQL, its relationship to MariaDB, and why it became the database behind most of the early web.
MySQL storage engines and setup
Installing MySQL/MariaDB, InnoDB vs MyISAM in depth, and the mysql command-line client.
MySQL vs PostgreSQL: an honest, practical comparison
Where the two databases genuinely differ - SQL dialect, strictness, replication, and how to actually choose between them.
MySQL/MariaDB in the cloud vs self-hosted
Managed MySQL and MariaDB providers, PlanetScale's serverless branching model, and applying the Module 6 decision framework here specifically.