Adding old MySQL libraries in Linux

I'm running HeidiSQL 12.13.1.1 on Debian Trixie. I have a MySQL 4.0 database I need to connect to, and I'd like to use Heidi to do it. I understand that this requires adding other versions of libmysqlclient.so, but I'm not sure how to do that. Any and all suggestions would be welcome. :)

Did you test with libmysqlclient and got any error message?

I just tested the libmariadb shipped with the installer on the Windows version, and it connects to a v4.1.22 server right away. Table editor is not working though, but running queries runs fine.

Now, libmariadb in the Windows version is currently v3.4.7 which still looks not so old: https://dlm.mariadb.com/browse/c_connector/

Note that I'm connecting to 4.0.27, not 4.1.22. When I try to connect to the server, I get the error "Connection failed: Malformed packet" (see attached screenshot)

Oh I guess in case of v4.0 this may be impossible to fix. I recall I gave up a part of the backward compatibility in the connection code for the sake of newer servers. That is already years ago so I cannot even tell you what exactly causes the "malformed packet" thing.

I don't see it's worth to fix in HeidiSQL, as v4.0 is used only by very few people. The recommended way would be to upgrade to a newer MySQL version anyway 😉

Listen, I wish I could upgrade, but that's not in the cards right now. :(

Yea, the old story. Note MySQL 4.0 is from March 2003.

Feels a bit like Mama looking down on you telling you should no longer wear this broken sweater 😉

LOLOLOL! It's not my decision; it's my job. And there are plans to upgrade to a more recent MySQL, but there are always complications... 🤦‍♀️

That is to say, it's my workplace that insists on using MySQL 4.0. :)

Try to install old (2005 year) libmysqlclient from debian archive and choose it (libmysqlclient.so.10) as library for session

archive.debian.org/debian-amd64/pool/main/libm/libmysqlclient-lgpl/libmysqlclient10_3.23.56-3_amd64.deb

OK, I'll give that a try. Thanks!

Thanks for the tip, I’ll try installing that older version of libmysqlclient. Hopefully, it’ll work for my connection issue!