Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday: November 5, 2026

In today's edition of Throwback Thursday, we revisit the simplistic (and flawed) approach of enterprise IT departments that ban Microsoft Access projects outright.

Mike Wolfe

• 1 min read
Throwback Thursday: November 5, 2026

With over a million words scattered across more than 1,800 articles on this blog, you've probably missed a few things here.

That’s why each week in "Throwback Thursday," we’ll revisit some standout posts. Expect a blend of my personal favorites, insightful articles from other great minds, and a touch of coding humor to keep things light.

Highlights from NoLongerSet.com

Access vs. Enterprise Software: A False Choice
Beware of strawman arguments against Microsoft Access.
No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Developer Humor

Twelve panels in Nancy's IT office. Panel 1, beside a server rack and an APPROVED APPS poster listing Excel, Word and New Outlook, with Access crossed out in red: Pat from Accounting, holding a printout, cheerfully asks Nancy, the IT Director, who stands with arms crossed: 'Hi, Nancy! Can Ace add an Email Vendor button to the invoice form?' Panel 2: Nancy, angry: 'No. Effective immediately, no further Access development will be authorized.' Pat, worried: 'Oh. So how do I get my button?' Panels 3 to 8: Nancy brightens, uncrossing her arms and explaining as she walks through the process while Pat listens, worried at first, then expressionless, then tired. Panel 3: 'The right way. First, you submit a software requisition to your department head.' Panel 4: 'Once it's approved, Procurement drafts a Request for Proposals.' Panel 5: 'Vendors have 90 days to respond. Then the selection committee scores the bids.' Panel 6: 'The winning vendor conducts a detailed needs analysis. Six to nine months.' Panel 7: 'Finally, the steering committee confirms the button will deliver measurable value.' Panel 8: 'Then the winning vendor's dev team schedules a sprint to implement the button.' Panel 9: Pat, puzzled: 'What's a sprint?' Nancy: 'It's part of agile development.' Panel 10: Pat, still puzzled: 'What's agile development?' Nancy crosses her arms. Panel 11: Nancy, smug: 'It's how modern software teams deliver features so quickly.' Pat looks tired. Panel 12: Pat, deadpan: 'Ace could've built it while we were talking.' Nancy glares.

Cover image generated by Ideogram

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All original code samples by Mike Wolfe are licensed under CC BY 4.0