This document discusses an alternative approach to object-relational mapping (ORM) tools for database access using a stack of lightweight Java libraries including Flyway for database migrations, jOOQ for SQL querying, Dropwizard Metrics for monitoring, and Google Protocol Buffers for serialization. It provides code examples of using these libraries for common database operations like getting and creating users and recommends using the Docker Maven plugin for containerization. The author invites others to join them in using this approach.