MYSQL 8 support with mysql2 v 0.3.x

[waqarnazir340]

Hi everyone,
I'm currently working on a legacy Rails project with the following specifications:

Rails version: 3.2.22.5
MySQL version: 5.7
mysql2 gem version: 0.3.19

As some of you may be aware, Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.7 is reaching the end of its standard support on February 29, 2024, and will subsequently provide EOL support for MYSQL 5.7 with additional charges. To avoid these extra charges, I'm exploring the possibility of upgrading MYSQL to 8.x.

The challenge I'm facing is that mysql2 gem version 0.3.x is not compatible with MYSQL 8, and any version of mysql2 gem above 0.3.x is not compatible with Rails 3.2.22.5. Upgrading the Rails version and subsequently using mysql2 0.5.x is not a feasible option at the moment due to time constraints.

I've come across a potential solution in the form of a pull request PR. I plan to test this in parallel, and I would greatly appreciate any insights, advice, or experiences any of you may have had in a similar situation.

If you have successfully patched mysql2 gem for MYSQL 8 compatibility or have faced a similar challenge, your guidance would be invaluable. Additionally, if you have any advice or recommendations regarding the mentioned pull request, please share your thoughts.

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance