Welcome to the first part of our new series, VBA Will Never Be Obsolete, presented by ExcelReInspired.com. This series is designed to revisit the fundamentals of VBA—Visual Basic for Applications—and challenge the recurring claim that VBA is obsolete. By the time we conclude this journey, you’ll see why the function of VBA remains indispensable, even if its form evolves.
What Does VBA Stand For?
Let’s begin with the basics. VBA stands for:
Visual Basic for Applications
At first glance, this appears to be just a name. But names matter—especially when they’re layered with meaning and historical context. VBA consists of three words, but they encapsulate two core ideas—and one marketing decision by Microsoft. Let’s unpack that.
Breaking It Down
1. “Visual Basic”
This was a standalone programming language developed by Microsoft to make software development more accessible. It was designed for creating Windows-based applications through a user-friendly, event-driven interface.
2. “For Applications”
This is where things get interesting. When Microsoft embedded the power of Visual Basic into products like Excel, Word, and Access, it transformed those tools from static programs into programmable, automatable environments. That’s the “for Applications” part—Visual Basic adapted specifically to control and extend Microsoft Office applications.
3. “Visual” as Branding
The word “Visual” refers to the graphical user interface approach to programming that was revolutionary in its time. But in the context of VBA, it also served as a bit of branding—a way to differentiate it from traditional text-based coding languages.
So when people say “VBA is dead,” they often miss what they’re actually referring to. Are they critiquing the language? The integration model? Or simply reacting to the age of the brand?
Will VBA Ever Be Obsolete?
That’s the big question. And the answer depends entirely on what you mean by “VBA.”
If you mean:
- The language syntax?
- The COM (Component Object Model) technology underpinning it?
- The integration with Microsoft Office?
Then yes, over time, these specific implementations may evolve or be replaced.
But if you mean:
- The ability to automate complex processes in Excel and other Office apps,
- The power to connect external data systems,
- The flexibility to build enterprise-level workflows tailored to real business logic,
Then no—the function of VBA cannot become obsolete unless something else completely replaces it functionally, not just cosmetically.
What’s Coming Next
In the next installment, we’ll look closely at the history and essence of Visual Basic itself—what it was designed to do, and why it was so uniquely suited to Excel automation.
Only by understanding the true nature of VBA—beyond the social media buzz or the age of its syntax—can we assess whether it has truly outlived its usefulness.
Spoiler: It hasn’t.
Stay with us as we go deeper into why the heart of VBA will never become obsolete—only misunderstood or mislabeled.
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