Thread

1. jordand · 1790113347 · focus · HN ↗

   All these years later, Microsoft Access is still alive and kicking, and just three years ago, the 32bit version got Large Address Aware (LAA) support! Technically my very first software job was writing VBA in Microsoft Access for a few weeks and they're probably still running it (there's no drop in replacement for it or cheap way to migrate away)

   1. post-it · 1790113601 · focus · HN ↗

      Access is so good. I can't believe there's no universal equivalent for Linux and Mac. There are dozens of times when I've used a spreadsheet when a file-based database would have been better.

      1. flowerlad · 1790115122 · focus · HN ↗

         > Access is so good. I can't believe there's no universal equivalent for Linux and Mac.

         Here you go: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;visualdb.com" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;visualdb.com There are many modern alternatives, in fact.

         1. jordand · 1790115939 · focus · HN ↗

            I&#x27;ve looked into these before and they&#x27;re often a monthly&#x2F;annual SaaS that are either by a one-person company, or worse, something like AirTable that gets crazy price hikes out of nowhere (or shut down) that&#x27;s a disaster for a small company. Place I worked already had Microsoft Office paid for so why move away from Access.

            1. flowerlad · 1790116308 · focus · HN ↗

               If it works for you then there is no need to switch. But Access is a desktop app, and in 2026 it is pretty unusual to use a desktop app for business applications. Also, Microsoft is no longer developing Access.

               1. criddell · 1790116466 · focus · HN ↗

                  &gt; Microsoft is no longer developing Access

                  I don’t think that’s true.

                  1. flowerlad · 1790138227 · focus · HN ↗

                     Have you seen &quot;Weekend at Bernie&#x27;s&quot;?

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