WebAssembly - Build High Performance Web Applications

WebAssembly is a binary instruction format for a stack-based virtual machine. It is designed as a portable compilation target for programming languages, enabling deployment on the web for client and server applications.

WebAssembly is still a relatively new technology, but it has the potential to revolutionize the web. It can be used for creating web applications that are more powerful and efficient than traditional JavaScript applications.

WebAssembly, commonly known as 'WASM,' was initially developed as a means to execute portable code in web browsers with performance comparable to low-level languages such as C/C++. Unlike JavaScript, which operates within the sandboxed environment of a web browser, WebAssembly prioritizes performance over human readability. It is essentially a binary format and compilation target, allowing applications to achieve near-native performance akin to running directly on the host operating system.

Compilation

After developing the desired functionality using the chosen programming language (following the syntax and rules of that language), we should use a compiler or toolchain specific to the programming language to convert the code into WebAssembly format. This step generates a WebAssembly binary file (with the .wasm extension) that contains the compiled code.

Execution

Load the WebAssembly binary file into the browser using JavaScript, and instantiate the WebAssembly module. This step typically involves creating an instance of the WebAssembly module, importing and exporting functions and data, and setting up the necessary environment. We can use the WebAssembly JavaScript API or other libraries to communicate with WebAssembly module.

Note: Check out WebAssembly.org for detailed steps.

Advantages

Performance: WebAssembly provides near-native performance, allowing applications to run with impressive speed and efficiency. It achieves this by utilizing a low-level binary format and executing code more directly compared to traditional web technologies like JavaScript.

Portability: WebAssembly is designed to be portable across different platforms and devices. This means that once compiled to WASM, code can run consistently and reliably across various browsers and operating systems, eliminating compatibility issues.

Language Agnostic: WebAssembly is not tied to any specific programming language. Developers can write code in multiple languages such as C/C++, Rust, and TypeScript and compile it to WebAssembly, allowing them to leverage their existing skills and utilize the language best suited for their application.

Interoperability: WebAssembly can seamlessly integrate with JavaScript, enabling developers to combine the strengths of both technologies. This interoperability allows for incremental adoption of WebAssembly in existing web projects and enables interaction between WebAssembly modules and JavaScript code.

Security: WebAssembly operates within a sandboxed environment, providing an additional layer of security. It offers protection against potential vulnerabilities and ensures that malicious code executed through WebAssembly does not compromise the underlying system.

Community Support: WebAssembly enjoys widespread support from major browser vendors, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari. This support demonstrates the commitment to its growth and adoption, further solidifying its position as a prominent technology in web development.

These advantages make WebAssembly an appealing choice for performance-critical applications, computationally intensive tasks, and scenarios where cross-platform compatibility and efficient execution are crucial.

Real-world use cases

Here are some real-world use cases, where WebAssembly has been successfully implemented:

Gaming: WebAssembly enables developers to bring high-performance games to the web. Companies like Epic Games have utilized WebAssembly to port their popular game engine, Unreal Engine, to the browser, allowing users to play graphics-intensive games without the need for plugins or installations.

Multimedia Applications: WebAssembly's efficient execution makes it ideal for multimedia applications like video and audio editing tools. For example, the open-source project Avidemux uses WebAssembly to provide a web-based video editing experience with near-native performance.

CAD and 3D Modeling: WebAssembly has been leveraged in the field of computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling. Autodesk's web-based CAD software, Fusion 360, utilizes WebAssembly to deliver a powerful and interactive 3D modeling experience directly in the browser.

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain: WebAssembly has found applications in the realm of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Projects like Parity, an Ethereum client, have employed WebAssembly to execute smart contracts efficiently and securely.

Scientific Computing: WebAssembly's speed and ability to execute complex calculations make it suitable for scientific computing. Libraries like TensorFlow, which powers machine learning applications, have integrated WebAssembly support to enable browser-based execution of machine learning models.

Virtualization: WebAssembly can be used for running virtual machines in the browser. Projects like WASI (WebAssembly System Interface) aim to create a standard interface for running WebAssembly applications securely, allowing for various system-level operations within the browser environment.

IoT and Edge Computing: WebAssembly's small footprint and ability to run on resource-constrained devices make it a promising technology for IoT and edge computing applications. It enables efficient execution of code on devices with limited processing power, extending the reach of web-based applications to the edge.

These examples demonstrate the versatility of WebAssembly across different domains, highlighting its potential for delivering high-performance applications directly in the browser.

Performance improvements

WebAssembly has been employed in a few popular programs, improving their performance significantly. One such example is Figma, a browser-based design tool, which adopted WebAssembly for its rendering engine. This transition resulted in a 70% reduction in page load time. Previously, Figma relied on asm.js for comparable performance but made the switch to WebAssembly when it became available.

However, WebAssembly is not designed for all browser-based computing requirements. It lacks direct access to DOM APIs and relies on JavaScript for interacting with the DOM.

How is it going to affect present web developers?

Web developers need to adapt to the new possibilities and considerations brought about by WebAssembly. While JavaScript will continue to be the primary language for many web applications, understanding and leveraging the capabilities of WebAssembly can empower developers to create faster, more efficient, and feature-rich web experiences.

WebAssembly's sandboxed execution environment enhances security by isolating code and preventing it from accessing sensitive resources. This benefits web developers by reducing the risk of malicious code compromising the integrity of the user's system or data.

In case, if you want to have a functionality (on a web application) that is already available in another language, you could try WebAssembly. Rather, you must use WebAssembly, instead of re-writing it in JavaScript or any other language.

Conclusion

WebAssembly (WASM) is a powerful technology that allows developers to run high-performance code in web browsers. It provides near-native execution speed and supports multiple programming languages, enabling developers to leverage their existing skills (and existing code base). By compiling code into WebAssembly format, applications can achieve impressive performance gains, making it suitable for computationally intensive tasks, gaming, multimedia applications, and more. WebAssembly promotes code sharing and interoperability between web and native applications, expanding the possibilities for web development. With its secure sandboxed environment and growing ecosystem, WebAssembly opens up new opportunities for creating fast, efficient, and feature-rich web experiences.

Refer the following websites for further reading:

• WebAssembly.org: The official website for WebAssembly
• MDN Web Docs - WebAssembly