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Discussion on: What is WebAssembly and why it is a game changer?

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joelbonetr profile image
JoelBonetR 🥇

Theoretically it's correct, but when you test WASM vs JS at runtime you'll see that in most cases JS performs better, maybe not the first run but as soon as JIT enters in the equation.

It has pros and cons, just like every tech you can play with. It's just that the pros are not enough to be a real game changer or to substitute JS.

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aryank21 profile image
Aryan Kaushik

Wasm is not there to compete with JS but infact to support each other. Executing things directly to the browser and much faster is the main usp. But if we talk about the comparison I would definitely agree with your point @joelbonetr .

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joelbonetr profile image
JoelBonetR 🥇 • Edited

Oh sorry, I was thinking about those compile/transpile to JS trend that show up a while ago.

You can see it in
Kotlin
C#
Emscripten, Emception to workaround it with C++...
The same way we can found multiple tools for many other languages.
There's even a project to convert PHP into JS, take a look

Some of them are well supported others don't (the same happens on WASM world).
There are two main ways to code with any language and run it into web, Compile/transpile it into JS or doing the same to WASM. (I say main because there are others out there).

Never had the need nor I wanted to take a try on coding in a different language and running it as JS or WASM after a conversion, it's something that I've as very very very low priority in my list but I'm curious about the marketshare or the real needs that it can cover IRL.

I also would like to know whether one approach is better than the other and what are the key points to decide. If you have this knowledge please share and tell me something through a message (or mention me), I'll be much appreciated 😄

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aryank21 profile image
Aryan Kaushik

Hi @joelbonetr . Though I'm also new to Wasm and don't have much development experience like you sir, but I'm very much facinated by wasm. Answering you question, Wasm is the 3rd generation of cloud computing, initially it was made to compile code on browser through its binary conversion property but Its more appealing property is towards server side for fast and securing processing work using Rust lang.

The purpose of my post was to aware the folks about wasm as many don't know its existence yet. It is currently in its pre famous phase as docker was in 2013.

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joelbonetr profile image
JoelBonetR 🥇

Ouch! Anyway remember about me when you decide to research more on that :D

I would love if you can expand the Use Cases and what benefits it can bring over alternatives more stablished on the market.

i.e. I code PWAs sometimes and never thought on using WASM on them.

It's always good to see younger people pushing knowledge on a tech or another and we oldies can also learn from you guys! I've not much knowledge on web3 (yet) nor in wasm so here's my follow to read your future posts :)

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aryank21 profile image
Aryan Kaushik • Edited

yeah sure. Alot of stuff is coming up soon.

By the time please Check enarx.dev/ for a wonderful application used for security using TEEs.

Thanks for the suggestion sir!

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dhravya profile image
Dhravya

JavaScript has been around since soo long, wasm will get there too

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aryank21 profile image
Aryan Kaushik • Edited

yeah, absolutely agree with you pal @dhravya !

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joelbonetr profile image
JoelBonetR 🥇

Or not, time will tell 😆