MariaDB 11.4 introduced many advanced features. One that grabbed my attention is the general support of packages for stored routines. Although this was previously available by activating the Oracle compatibility mode, now the feature is available generally out-of-the-box. This will help you to significantly enhance the organization of database development within a MariaDB environment. Packages provide a modular approach to managing database logic. This addition aligns MariaDB more closely with other advanced database systems that have long utilized packages, such as Oracle, and sets it apart in that regard from other open-source relational databases that don’t support packages.
Packages in MariaDB allow you to group related stored procedures, functions, variables, and other elements together into a single unit. This structure provides several benefits, including improved code organization, enhanced reusability, and simplified maintenance. Prior to this update, each stored procedure and function in MariaDB existed independently, which could lead to a cluttered schema and more complicated management of complex business logic when implemented in the database. Packages address this issue by providing a way to logically group related routines.