> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://nolongerset.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The State of Access Today - URL: https://nolongerset.com/state-of-access-2021/ - Published: 2021-11-30T22:20:22.000Z - Updated: 2026-05-08T13:01:04.000Z - Description: What's the state of Microsoft Access in 2021: thriving, alive, dying, or dead? If you only know Access by reputation, the answer may surprise you. - Author: Mike Wolfe - Tags: Commentary, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59 [Over at Developer's Hut](https://www.devhut.net/whats-is-access-position-thriving-alive-dying-dead/), Access MVP Daniel Pineault posed the following question: > Here’s a question I put to you, How is Access fairing today in your humble opinion? > > Is Access: > > - Thriving as it should, growing in the world > - Alive, but not progressing > - On a downward spiral towards its demise > - Dead, already in its cemetery plot > > ## Access: Alive, But Not Progressing > > As has been the case for about 10 years now, Access is "Alive, but not progressing." > > As Access nears its 30th birthday, I think it will still be around another three decades from now.... in roughly the same form it is now. > > ## Stuck in Limbo > > Access holds zero appeal for young software developers. No Silicon Valley VC is going to invest in your Access-based software product. It doesn't scale the way a web-based SaaS does. There will always be a ceiling on how much leverage you can generate selling an Access-based business-to-consumer product that does not exist with web applications. > > BUT, if you are a competent Microsoft Access developer, you will have no shortage of custom desktop software projects to build (and maintain). I think it's safe to say there are 100s of thousands (if not millions) of critical business applications running in Microsoft Access *today.* And there is simply no other product available that offers a seamless migration option for a front-end Access application. In fact, Microsoft practically guaranteed that would be the case when they broke VBx backward compatibility in their move to VB.Net. > > The ONLY thing that could make Access go away is a directly compatible alternative product (the way Excel supplanted Lotus 1-2-3). Of course, that's *very* unlikely to happen anytime soon because no software company is interested in trying to build or sell a desktop Rapid Application Development platform to a market that won't even consider investing in anything that doesn't include the word "cloud" somewhere in its name. > > ## Extreme Makeover: Access Edition > > So, what would it take to grow Access from "Alive" to "Thriving?" > >> Microsoft needs to do a better job of marketing Access as a ***development* platform**. > > Here are a few suggestions: > > - [Make Access more version-control friendly](https://nolongerset.com/version-control-friendly-access-request/) > - Stop selling Access short by referring to it as a [no-code/low-code development platform](https://nolongerset.com/access-dataverse-connector/) in [official communications](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJbIZDo6DZ4) > - Do something about the 90's era IDE ([VS Code integration](https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/26976bab-6943-ec11-a81a-6045bd78d291), anyone?) > - Clarify [Access's dual purpose](https://nolongerset.com/multiple-personality-disorder/) as both a front-end and back-end (perhaps some light rebranding as Access Interact™ vs. Access Jet™?) > > --- > > ### External references > > [What’s Is Access’ Position: Thriving, Alive, Dying, Dead?How is Access doing in the world today? Is it Alive and well, a dying dodo or already dead. Does this 30+ year old product have much longer to live?Daniel Pineault](https://www.devhut.net/whats-is-access-position-thriving-alive-dying-dead/) > > ### Referenced articles > > [Let’s Make Access More Version-Control FriendlyHey! Wouldn’t it be great if Access was version-control friendly out of the box? If you agree, head over to the Access feedback portal and vote for my request.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/ask-2341784_1920.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/version-control-friendly-access-request/) > > [Access Dataverse ConnectorDid you ever think to yourself, “I wish there was a way to make my back-end data less flexible \*and\* less powerful?” Good news; your wait is over!![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/2021-11-23-22_57_26-mjw20-Bringing-Microsoft-Access-into-the-Future_-Introducing-the-Microsoft-Access-Conn.png)](https://nolongerset.com/access-dataverse-connector/) > > [Microsoft Access’s Multiple Personality DisorderThe dual nature of Access–and the ignorance of this reality–is a major source of the shade that “real programmers” throw its way.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/06/yin-yang-99824_1280.png)](https://nolongerset.com/multiple-personality-disorder/) > > *Image by [FotoZeit](https://pixabay.com/users/fotozeit-6170030/?utm%5Fsource=link-attribution&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=image&utm%5Fcontent=2976674) from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/?utm%5Fsource=link-attribution&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=image&utm%5Fcontent=2976674)*