Choosing a Distribution
Before beginning to download an installation package, you must decide which version of MySQL to install. The best choice is usually the latest stable version recommended by MySQL AB on its site. This is the GA (Generally Available) release. It’s not recommended that you install a newer version unless you need some new feature that is contained only in one of the newer versions, such as the beta version or the RC (Release Candidate) version. It’s also not recommended that you install an older version unless you have an existing database or an API application that won’t function with the current version.
When installing MySQL, you also have the option of using either a source distribution or a binary distribution. It’s easier, and recommended, for you to install a binary distribution. However, you may want to use a source distribution if you have special configuration requirements that must be set during the installation or at compile time. You may also have to use a source distribution if a binary distribution isn’t available for your operating system.
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