diff --git a/install_mysql.sh b/install_mysql.sh
index b8948ae6164329f9477d4335b04bc3eefedfdbce..68252b2048b710fb7877f040cd8c5654454451b3 100755
--- a/install_mysql.sh
+++ b/install_mysql.sh
@@ -107,6 +107,14 @@ function install_ubuntu_mysql () {
 
     # Proceed with initial configuration.
     mysql_secure_installation
+
+    # Optionally install programming dependencies.
+    echo ""
+    get_user_confirmation "Install programming dependencies? These are necessary for things like serving Django projects."
+    if [[ ${return_value} == true ]]
+    then
+        sudo apt-get install libmysqlclient-dev -y > /dev/null
+    fi
 }
 
 
@@ -126,6 +134,14 @@ function install_ubuntu_mariadb () {
 
     # Proceed with initial configuration.
     mysql_secure_installation
+
+    # Optionally install programming dependencies.
+    echo ""
+    get_user_confirmation "Install programming dependencies? These are necessary for things like serving Django projects."
+    if [[ ${return_value} == true ]]
+    then
+        sudo apt-get install libmariadbclient-dev libssl-dev -y > /dev/null
+    fi
 }