MicrosoftNaveen_Shankar VBScript Classic ASP holds a special place in the hearts of those who enjoy rapid prototyping and “script-like” development. This language, which does not differentiate between uppercase and lowercase letters and does not overly burden you with variable types, can deliver highly satisfactory results in terms of both efficiency and performance—provided it is structured well. Many developers who once automated tasks with batch files discovered the convenience of Classic ASP and felt as if they were “developing web applications with batch scripts.”
Although Microsoft made attempts to revisit the past with ASP Web Pages, it’s hard to say they truly captured the free and flexible development environment provided by Classic ASP. Modern technologies such as ASP.NET, Python, and Node.js do not fully align with Classic ASP’s straightforward “scripting” nature. In fact, the fact that 76% of websites use PHP today may partly be due to Microsoft’s decision on February 17, 2000, to stop evolving Classic ASP and fail to provide sufficient community support.
One of Classic ASP’s major advantages is its seamless integration with COM/DCOM components. Configurable through DCOMCNFG (dcomcnfg.exe), these components give developers the ability to easily invoke business logic prepared in different languages (such as C++ or Python) within Classic ASP. As a result, Classic ASP goes beyond just being a “language,” serving instead as a bridge capable of communicating with various system-level services or enterprise applications. Even today, many older but mission-critical applications in the business world still run on COM/DCOM, so Classic ASP’s integration capabilities enable it to remain part of large projects.
Despite there being a dedicated group that has insisted on using Classic ASP for 25 years, keeping their applications running on this technology, Microsoft has not only stopped developing Classic ASP but has also refrained from gifting it to the open-source world.
If they had, Classic ASP might have sustained its momentum—similar to PHP—through an engaged community. Ultimately, with years of accumulated expertise and practical experience, significant innovations, security patches, or performance-enhancing improvements could have been added to Classic ASP.
When it comes to a simple scripting language and ease of use, there is still no direct equivalent to Classic ASP within the Microsoft ecosystem. For that reason, those seeking something “like Classic ASP” in the Microsoft world actually tend to turn to PHP rather than ASP.NET. ASP.NET and other modern solutions are undoubtedly powerful frameworks, but they can’t match the lightness, flexibility, and freedom from excessive rules that Classic ASP provides.
Microsoft is also known for launching numerous products and then shelving them later. Classic ASP is one of the most notable examples of this. Consequently, developers have hesitated to invest in building long-term projects on a Microsoft technology out of concern it might be discontinued. Its lack of transition into open source casts a shadow over both its nostalgic value and the community members who still rely on it.
Classic ASP continues to maintain its simplicity, rapid prototyping capability, and ability to integrate with other technologies via COM/DCOM. If Microsoft had brought this old yet powerful scripting language into the open-source domain, perhaps it would have shed its “forgotten technology” or “insecure Microsoft technology” labels and found renewed excitement as an alternative solution.
Nevertheless, with official support winding down and the open-source path overlooked, Classic ASP is gradually being consigned to history. Even so, a community of dedicated users who recognize its merits and continue to use it ensures that the spirit of Classic ASP lives on.
