WASM: Exploring its Capabilities and Future Possibilities

Palabras clave: WebAssembly (Wasm), DevOps workflows, cloud deployment, serverless functions

Introduction

Today, applications face increasing demands for efficiency and speed, driven by the rise in connected devices and web applications. In this context, technologies like WebAssembly (Wasm) emerge as innovative solutions that optimize the performance and portability of applications.

Wasm allows languages like Rust, C++, and C to be compiled into a highly efficient binary format that runs in both browsers and the cloud, approaching the performance of native applications. This transforms the way web applications are built, improving user experience with faster load times and lower resource consumption.

Moreover, tools like Spin and Slight facilitate the integration of Wasm into workflows, enabling developers to compile and optimize code for different environments. These tools are helping to maximize Wasm’s capabilities both in the browser and in the cloud.

Key Benefits of WebAssembly

Wasm offers several advantages that set it apart:

Efficiency and Speed: Wasm executes code in an optimized binary format, ensuring near-native performance, especially in complex web applications.
Security: Wasm runs in a secure, isolated environment integrated into browsers, reinforcing both user and system security.
Part of the Open Web Platform: Wasm integrates smoothly with web technologies like JavaScript and browser APIs, making it a natural extension of the web ecosystem.

Docker vs. Wasm

While Docker has become the standard choice for deploying and managing containerized applications, WebAssembly offers a different approach to running applications with superior performance in certain cases. Docker encapsulates applications and their dependencies in isolated containers, which simplifies portability and cloud management. Some of Docker’s key advantages include:

Portability: Docker containers can run in any environment that supports Docker.
Isolation: Each container operates independently, preventing conflicts between applications.
Resource Control: Docker allows you to assign specific resources, such as CPU and memory, to each container.

On the other hand, Wasm is designed to run optimized binary code both in the browser and cloud environments. Its main advantages are:

Cross-platform Compatibility: Wasm can work with a variety of languages, including C++, Rust, and Go.
Efficient Browser Execution: Wasm allows high-performance applications to run directly in the browser.
Security and Isolation: Wasm runs code in a highly controlled environment with limited access to system resources.

Although Docker and Wasm are different technologies, they complement each other well. Docker excels in cloud deployment, while Wasm optimizes applications in the browser. However, Docker has already started integrating Wasm into its containers, showing how both technologies can coexist to offer more robust solutions.

Different Uses in the Cloud

When evaluating WebAssembly’s use in the cloud, it’s important to review how each cloud provider supports this technology. Both AWS and Azure offer support for Wasm, but with different approaches.

Azure

In Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), it’s possible to create nodes that support frameworks like Spin and Slight, facilitating the execution of Wasm applications.

Runtimes en AKS	Spin	Slight
C/C++	✅	✅
Grain	✅	❌
Rust	✅	✅
Java	❌	✅
Go	✅	✅
JS	✅	✅
Ruby	✅	✅
Python	✅	✅
Zig	✅	❌
C#	✅	❌
.NET	✅	❌

AWS

AWS Lambda allows serverless function execution using Wasm Edge, extending the reach of Wasm to serverless applications in AWS cloud.

AWS lambda	Wasm Edge
C/C++	✅
Go	✅
Python	✅
Rust	✅
Javascript	✅
Swift	✅
Kotlin	✅
AssemblyScript	✅
C#	❌
Zig	❌
Grain	✅
Ruby	❌

Use Cases

It’s also important to examine some of the most common use cases for both Docker and WebAssembly (Wasm). Now, let’s explore some general and specific uses for Docker and especially Wasm.

Docker

Microservices: Docker is ideal for deploying and managing microservices, as each service can run in its own isolated container.
DevOps and CI/CD: Docker facilitates DevOps practices and continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) by creating consistent and replicable environments.
Cloud Deployment: Docker containers can be deployed on any cloud infrastructure, allowing easy management.
Applications with Many Dependencies: Docker is more suitable for applications with many dependencies, as it can package all necessary dependencies within the container.

WebAssembly (Wasm)

High-performance Web Applications: Wasm allows code to run at native speed in the browser, making it perfect for graphic editors, games, and simulations.
High Volume of Replicas: Wasm is ideal for applications requiring a large volume of replicas due to its lower resource consumption, enabling more efficient and cost-effective scaling.
Cross-platform Applications: Wasm enables the creation of applications that run consistently across any modern browser, regardless of platform.
Applications with Specific Dependencies: While Wasm is very powerful, applications with many dependencies may require additional compatibility, so it’s better suited for self-contained applications or those with well-managed dependencies.

Now, let’s look at specific examples of Wasm applications:

In the browser:

Image and video editing.
Games (casual and AAA).
Virtual and augmented reality.
Development tools.

Outside the browser:

Game distribution service.
Server-side computing.
Native hybrid apps on mobile devices.

Usage Modes:

Full codebase in WebAssembly.
Main framework in WebAssembly with UI in JavaScript/HTML.

Conclusions

WebAssembly (Wasm) has emerged as a revolutionary technology transforming the capabilities of the modern web. Its efficient, secure, and highly portable design positions it as a key tool for developing high-performance web applications, enabling faster, smoother experiences in both browsers and the cloud.

By integrating with platforms like AWS and Azure, Wasm not only improves the performance and security of applications but also expands their scalability and optimization possibilities. This synergy with cloud environments opens up new opportunities to improve resource efficiency and management in distributed applications.

The combination of WebAssembly and Docker results in a powerful alliance for application deployment. While Docker simplifies container management and cloud deployment, Wasm elevates application performance and portability, facilitating execution in both the browser and cloud infrastructure.

In summary, Wasm is poised to become a key piece of the future web, offering a solid platform for building faster, more secure, and scalable applications that meet the growing demands of the digital landscape