by DeeDee Walsh, on Apr 6, 2025 11:37:32 AM
Back in the dark ages of 1991, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and dial-up was king, I was living the dream as a product manager for Visual Basic. Seriously, GREATEST. JOB. EVER. I even had my fingerprints all over the early versions of Visual Studio. Yeah, I'm that old. But like my questionable fashion choices* from the 90s, all good things must end.
*Example of bad fashion choice, circa 1998 at VB6 launch party
Tech waits for no one. It barrels forward like a caffeinated toddler, leaving behind the tools we once worshipped. Case in point: Visual Basic 6.0 (VB6). Oh, VB6! You magnificent beast. You made Windows dev easy, fast, and almost too user-friendly. But let's face it: mainstream support for VB6 kicked the bucket way back on April 8, 2008. Do the math. This April 8th marks the 17th anniversary of VB6 being officially put out to pasture. Seventeen years! If your VB6 app was a person, it could legally drive in most states and is probably complaining about gas prices.
If your company is still clinging to VB6 like it's the last lifeboat off the Titanic, you're sailing into seriously dangerous waters. Let's take a trip down memory lane, explore why VB6 was the bomb dot com, why running it now is basically playing Russian Roulette with your data, and why Blazor and Azure are the new, significantly less risky escape pod.
The Glory Days: When VB6 Ruled the RAD World
VB6, released in '98, wasn't just popular; it was a phenomenon. Why? Because it made building Windows apps stupidly simple. You didn't need a computer science PhD; you just needed a mouse and a vague idea. That drag-and-drop interface? Revolutionary! Complicated Windows API calls? VB6 hid most of that nasty stuff. The language itself was practically plain English. If condition Then DoSomething. Amazing.
And the ecosystem! Oh, the ecosystem. Built-in controls, easy hooks into Access and SQL Server - businesses could churn out line-of-business apps faster than you could say "ActiveX." At its peak, something like 5 million developers were writing VB6 code. Resources, third-party controls, questionable Geocities fan pages – they were everywhere. It was a golden age... for desktop apps running on Windows 98.
Trouble Ahead: That VB6 App Isn't Vintage, It's a Liability
Fast forward to today. Running VB6 isn't charmingly retro; it's negligent. Microsoft pulled the plug on full support in 2008. No more security updates. Nada. Zip. Zilch. That's not just leaving your front door unlocked; it's leaving it wide open with a neon sign flashing "Free Vulnerabilities Inside!" You're practically begging for cyberattacks, data breaches, and the kind of financial losses that make CFOs weep.
Think you can just run it on Windows 11? Good luck with that. You'll be wrestling with compatibility modes, praying to the virtualization gods, and generally wasting time you could be spending on, ya know, innovating. Finding developers who want to work on VB6? It's like finding a unicorn that knows COBOL. Expect maintenance costs to skyrocket.
Plus, let's be real: VB6 wasn't built for the modern world. Cloud? AI? APIs? Mobile? Robust security? Proper object-oriented programming? Multi-threading that doesn’t make you want to rip your hair out? Nope. It's missing the architectural plumbing modern applications demand. Stuck in a regulated industry like healthcare or finance? Running unsupported VB6 code will land you in a world of compliance hurt.
Fresh Start, No JavaScript Required: Enter Blazor
Tired of the VB6 headaches? Meet Blazor, Microsoft's gift to developers who like C# and hate JavaScript (or just want to use one language for everything). Blazor lets you build interactive web UIs using C# and .NET. Yes, you read that right. The same robust, familiar .NET framework you (hopefully) know and love, running in the browser via WebAssembly or efficiently on the server.
Blazor apps are fast. Like, really fast. Its component-based model means reusable code, easier maintenance, and development that doesn't make you want to defect to goat farming. It plugs right into the massive .NET ecosystem - libraries, tools, Visual Studio integration - it's all there.
Say goodbye to desktop shackles! Blazor apps run in any modern browser, anywhere. And security? It uses .NET's security features. You get modern protection and compliance readiness baked right in. It’s like VB6’s cool, web-savvy grandchild who actually understands security.
Power Up Your Migration with Azure
Okay, Blazor is cool. But Blazor on Azure? That's where the magic happens. Azure, Microsoft's cloud platform, gives you the scalability, reliability, and global reach your VB6 app could only dream of.
Forget buying and managing servers. Azure handles the infrastructure grunt work, automatically scaling your app up or down as needed. Need your app available worldwide? Done. Worried about security? Azure is Fort Knox compared to your aging VB6 setup, offering good stuff like Web Application Firewalls (WAF), advanced threat detection, and tons of compliance certifications.
The pay-as-you-go model means you stop hemorrhaging cash on hardware you barely use. Plus, Azure DevOps integration streamlines your deployment pipeline, letting you push updates faster and more reliably. Services like Azure App Service, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Migrate, and a bunch of database options make the modernization journey smoother.
Real-Life Success Stories: Yes, People Actually Do This!
Think migrating off VB6 is impossible? Think again. Over here at GAP Migrations, we’ve migrated thousands and thousands of VB6 apps and billions of lines of code. Companies do it all the time. AgWorks moved their critical VB6 app to web and cloud, untethering themselves from the desktop and enjoying savings and easy deployment. Hunter Industries modernized a VB6 desktop application to web native, increasing competitiveness and boosting sales results. These aren't fairy tales; they're proof that migration is not only feasible but often surprisingly cost-effective.
Seriously, Why Upgrade Now?
Let's recap the perks of ditching VB6 for Blazor and Azure:
- Performance: Speed your users will actually notice.
- Security: Go from "please don't hack me" to "actively protected."
- Lower Costs: Reduced maintenance, infrastructure savings.
- Modern Capabilities: Tap into AI, ML, serverless, microservices - all the new, fun stuff!
- Reach: Web and cloud access, not just old desktops.
- Developer Sanity: Happier devs using modern tools (trust me on this).
The Bottom Line: Pour One Out for VB6, Then Move On
VB6 had a great run. It changed the game (not to mention the course of my life). But its time is long past. As we approach the 17th anniversary of its end-of-support, the risks of staying put are just too damn high.
Migrating to Blazor and Azure isn't just about patching security holes; it's about setting your business up for the future. It's about building applications that are scalable, secure, and ready for whatever comes next.
Take this anniversary as a sign. It's time. Rip off the Band-Aid. Say goodbye to that old VB6 code. Embrace the modern world of Blazor and Azure. Your future self, your developers, your users, and your bottom line will thank you.
