diff --git a/client/mysqlbinlog.cc b/client/mysqlbinlog.cc
index 226776e4404..bf4920c6f77 100644
--- a/client/mysqlbinlog.cc
+++ b/client/mysqlbinlog.cc
@@ -1010,10 +1010,11 @@ static struct my_option my_long_options[] =
    "row-based events; 'decode-rows' decodes row events into commented SQL "
    "statements if the --verbose option is also given; 'auto' prints base64 "
    "only when necessary (i.e., for row-based events and format description "
-   "events); 'always' prints base64 whenever possible. 'always' is for "
-   "debugging only and should not be used in a production system. If this "
-   "argument is not given, the default is 'auto'; if it is given with no "
-   "argument, 'always' is used.",
+   "events); 'always' prints base64 whenever possible. 'always' is "
+   "deprecated, will be removed in a future version, and should not be used "
+   "in a production system.  --base64-output with no 'name' argument is "
+   "equivalent to --base64-output=always and is also deprecated.  If no "
+   "--base64-output[=name] option is given at all, the default is 'auto'.",
    &opt_base64_output_mode_str, &opt_base64_output_mode_str,
    0, GET_STR, OPT_ARG, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
   /*
@@ -2024,6 +2025,13 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
   if (opt_base64_output_mode == BASE64_OUTPUT_UNSPEC)
     opt_base64_output_mode= BASE64_OUTPUT_AUTO;
+  if (opt_base64_output_mode == BASE64_OUTPUT_ALWAYS)
+    warning("The --base64-output=always flag and the --base64-output flag "
+            "(with '=MODE' omitted), are deprecated. "
+            "The output generated when these flags are used cannot be "
+            "parsed by mysql 5.6.0 and later. "
+            "The flags will be removed in a future version. "
+            "Please use --base64-output=auto instead.");
 
   my_set_max_open_files(open_files_limit);
 
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index d8a45214a5c..9f986e068cb 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ dnl
 dnl When changing the major version number please also check the switch
 dnl statement in mysqlbinlog::check_master_version().  You may also need
 dnl to update version.c in ndb.
-AC_INIT([MySQL Server], [5.5.8-ga], [], [mysql])
+AC_INIT([MySQL Server], [5.5.8-rc], [], [mysql])
 
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([sql/mysqld.cc])
 AC_CANONICAL_SYSTEM
diff --git a/mysql-test/collections/default.experimental b/mysql-test/collections/default.experimental
index 29046e9b8bc..ce3f50f5f94 100644
--- a/mysql-test/collections/default.experimental
+++ b/mysql-test/collections/default.experimental
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ main.wait_timeout @solaris               # Bug#51244 2010-04-26 alik wait_timeou
 rpl.rpl_heartbeat_basic                  # BUG#54820 2010-06-26 alik rpl.rpl_heartbeat_basic fails sporadically again
 rpl.rpl_heartbeat_2slaves                # BUG#43828 2009-10-22 luis fails sporadically
 rpl.rpl_innodb_bug28430*                 # Bug#46029
-rpl.rpl_innodb_bug30888* @solaris        # Bug#47646 2009-09-25 alik rpl.rpl_innodb_bug30888 fails sporadically on Solaris
 rpl.rpl_killed_ddl @windows              # Bug#47638 2010-01-20 alik The rpl_killed_ddl test fails on Windows
 
 sys_vars.max_sp_recursion_depth_func @solaris # Bug#47791 2010-01-20 alik Several test cases fail on Solaris with error Thread stack overrun
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/ctype_binary.result b/mysql-test/r/ctype_binary.result
index 0e8fe328589..d79265b29c7 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/ctype_binary.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/ctype_binary.result
@@ -1425,7 +1425,7 @@ create table t1 as select concat(time_to_sec('10:11:12')) as c1;
 show create table t1;
 Table	Create Table
 t1	CREATE TABLE `t1` (
-  `c1` varbinary(10) NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
+  `c1` varbinary(10) DEFAULT NULL
 ) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1
 drop table t1;
 select hex(concat(extract(year from 20090702)));
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/ctype_cp1251.result b/mysql-test/r/ctype_cp1251.result
index b1e9ff38d26..babed8951a2 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/ctype_cp1251.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/ctype_cp1251.result
@@ -1507,7 +1507,7 @@ create table t1 as select concat(time_to_sec('10:11:12')) as c1;
 show create table t1;
 Table	Create Table
 t1	CREATE TABLE `t1` (
-  `c1` varchar(10) CHARACTER SET cp1251 NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
+  `c1` varchar(10) CHARACTER SET cp1251 DEFAULT NULL
 ) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1
 drop table t1;
 select hex(concat(extract(year from 20090702)));
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/ctype_latin1.result b/mysql-test/r/ctype_latin1.result
index 6216819d172..6edddecb88f 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/ctype_latin1.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/ctype_latin1.result
@@ -1835,7 +1835,7 @@ create table t1 as select concat(time_to_sec('10:11:12')) as c1;
 show create table t1;
 Table	Create Table
 t1	CREATE TABLE `t1` (
-  `c1` varchar(10) NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
+  `c1` varchar(10) DEFAULT NULL
 ) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1
 drop table t1;
 select hex(concat(extract(year from 20090702)));
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/ctype_ucs.result b/mysql-test/r/ctype_ucs.result
index c2fb90ecfa6..1008f201366 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/ctype_ucs.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/ctype_ucs.result
@@ -2667,7 +2667,7 @@ create table t1 as select concat(time_to_sec('10:11:12')) as c1;
 show create table t1;
 Table	Create Table
 t1	CREATE TABLE `t1` (
-  `c1` varchar(10) CHARACTER SET ucs2 NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
+  `c1` varchar(10) CHARACTER SET ucs2 DEFAULT NULL
 ) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1
 drop table t1;
 select hex(concat(extract(year from 20090702)));
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/ctype_utf8.result b/mysql-test/r/ctype_utf8.result
index e14b54b59a3..122d722be71 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/ctype_utf8.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/ctype_utf8.result
@@ -3511,7 +3511,7 @@ create table t1 as select concat(time_to_sec('10:11:12')) as c1;
 show create table t1;
 Table	Create Table
 t1	CREATE TABLE `t1` (
-  `c1` varchar(10) CHARACTER SET utf8 NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
+  `c1` varchar(10) CHARACTER SET utf8 DEFAULT NULL
 ) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1
 drop table t1;
 select hex(concat(extract(year from 20090702)));
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/func_time.result b/mysql-test/r/func_time.result
index f1b2196ebfa..0ed46ba270b 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/func_time.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/func_time.result
@@ -1315,6 +1315,20 @@ SELECT 1 FROM t1 ORDER BY @x:=makedate(a,a);
 1
 1
 DROP TABLE t1;
+#
+# Bug #52160: crash and inconsistent results when grouping
+#             by a function and column
+#
+CREATE TABLE t1(a CHAR(10) NOT NULL);
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (''),('');
+SELECT COUNT(*) FROM t1 GROUP BY TIME_TO_SEC(a);
+COUNT(*)
+2
+Warnings:
+Warning	1292	Truncated incorrect time value: ''
+Warning	1292	Truncated incorrect time value: ''
+Warning	1292	Truncated incorrect time value: ''
+DROP TABLE t1;
 End of 5.1 tests
 #
 # Bug#57039: constant subtime expression returns incorrect result.
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/mysqlbinlog.result b/mysql-test/r/mysqlbinlog.result
index 51fad679909..ce83fe5b79b 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/mysqlbinlog.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/mysqlbinlog.result
@@ -879,3 +879,7 @@ ROLLBACK /* added by mysqlbinlog */;
 /*!50003 SET COMPLETION_TYPE=@OLD_COMPLETION_TYPE*/;
 End of 5.0 tests
 End of 5.1 tests
+# Expect deprecation warning.
+WARNING: The --base64-output=always flag and the --base64-output flag (with '=MODE' omitted), are deprecated. The output generated when these flags are used cannot be parsed by mysql 5.6.0 and later. The flags will be removed in a future version. Please use --base64-output=auto instead.
+# Expect deprecation warning again.
+WARNING: The --base64-output=always flag and the --base64-output flag (with '=MODE' omitted), are deprecated. The output generated when these flags are used cannot be parsed by mysql 5.6.0 and later. The flags will be removed in a future version. Please use --base64-output=auto instead.
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/type_blob.result b/mysql-test/r/type_blob.result
index 78f31286ea7..e3363fcabf9 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/type_blob.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/type_blob.result
@@ -975,4 +975,14 @@ SELECT LENGTH(c) FROM t2;
 LENGTH(c)
 65535
 DROP TABLE t1, t2;
+# Bug #52160: crash and inconsistent results when grouping
+#             by a function and column
+CREATE FUNCTION f1() RETURNS TINYBLOB RETURN 1;
+CREATE TABLE t1(a CHAR(1));
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES ('0'), ('0');
+SELECT COUNT(*) FROM t1 GROUP BY f1(), a;
+COUNT(*)
+2
+DROP FUNCTION f1;
+DROP TABLE t1;
 End of 5.1 tests
diff --git a/mysql-test/t/func_time.test b/mysql-test/t/func_time.test
index 08c09adb093..0a2b473ca59 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/func_time.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/func_time.test
@@ -832,6 +832,16 @@ INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (0),(9.216e-096);
 SELECT 1 FROM t1 ORDER BY @x:=makedate(a,a);
 DROP TABLE t1;
 
+--echo #
+--echo # Bug #52160: crash and inconsistent results when grouping
+--echo #             by a function and column
+--echo #
+
+CREATE TABLE t1(a CHAR(10) NOT NULL);
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (''),('');
+SELECT COUNT(*) FROM t1 GROUP BY TIME_TO_SEC(a);
+DROP TABLE t1;
+
 --echo End of 5.1 tests
 
 --echo #
diff --git a/mysql-test/t/mysqlbinlog.test b/mysql-test/t/mysqlbinlog.test
index 3a9dae35476..76f6c63fc1d 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/mysqlbinlog.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/mysqlbinlog.test
@@ -487,3 +487,18 @@ diff_files $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbinlog.warn $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbin
 # Cleanup for this part of test
 remove_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbinlog.warn.empty;
 remove_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbinlog.warn;
+
+#
+# WL#5625: Deprecate mysqlbinlog options --base64-output=always and --base64-output
+#
+
+--echo # Expect deprecation warning.
+--exec $MYSQL_BINLOG --base64-output=always std_data/master-bin.000001 > /dev/null 2> $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbinlog.warn
+--cat_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbinlog.warn
+
+--echo # Expect deprecation warning again.
+--exec $MYSQL_BINLOG --base64-output std_data/master-bin.000001 > /dev/null 2> $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbinlog.warn
+--cat_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbinlog.warn
+
+# Clean up this part of the test.
+--remove_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/mysqlbinlog.warn
diff --git a/mysql-test/t/type_blob.test b/mysql-test/t/type_blob.test
index c06d8ac97e0..fa67afa48e8 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/type_blob.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/type_blob.test
@@ -617,4 +617,17 @@ SELECT LENGTH(c) FROM t2;
 
 DROP TABLE t1, t2;
 
+--echo # Bug #52160: crash and inconsistent results when grouping
+--echo #             by a function and column
+
+CREATE FUNCTION f1() RETURNS TINYBLOB RETURN 1;
+
+CREATE TABLE t1(a CHAR(1));
+INSERT INTO t1 VALUES ('0'), ('0');
+
+SELECT COUNT(*) FROM t1 GROUP BY f1(), a;
+
+DROP FUNCTION f1;
+DROP TABLE t1;
+
 --echo End of 5.1 tests
diff --git a/sql/field.cc b/sql/field.cc
index ce1b1fc6eb0..a9b5fedda2d 100644
--- a/sql/field.cc
+++ b/sql/field.cc
@@ -8408,6 +8408,8 @@ uchar *Field_enum::pack(uchar *to, const uchar *from,
   default:
     DBUG_ASSERT(0);
   }
+  MY_ASSERT_UNREACHABLE();
+  DBUG_RETURN(NULL);
 }
 
 const uchar *Field_enum::unpack(uchar *to, const uchar *from,
@@ -8430,6 +8432,8 @@ const uchar *Field_enum::unpack(uchar *to, const uchar *from,
   default:
     DBUG_ASSERT(0);
   }
+  MY_ASSERT_UNREACHABLE();
+  DBUG_RETURN(NULL);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/sql/item_timefunc.h b/sql/item_timefunc.h
index 004eb83cbeb..72a5aa0c296 100644
--- a/sql/item_timefunc.h
+++ b/sql/item_timefunc.h
@@ -361,6 +361,7 @@ public:
   const char *func_name() const { return "time_to_sec"; }
   void fix_length_and_dec()
   {
+    maybe_null= TRUE;
     decimals=0;
     max_length=10*MY_CHARSET_BIN_MB_MAXLEN;
   }
diff --git a/sql/sql_select.cc b/sql/sql_select.cc
index d9fefe35bd8..e9373bc455f 100644
--- a/sql/sql_select.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_select.cc
@@ -15220,6 +15220,8 @@ calc_group_buffer(JOIN *join,ORDER *group)
         {
           key_length+= 8;
         }
+        else if (type == MYSQL_TYPE_BLOB)
+          key_length+= MAX_BLOB_WIDTH;		// Can't be used as a key
         else
         {
           /*