WebAssembly Might Not Be JavaScript’s Replacement, But It Does Have A Lot To Offer

95% of the  1.6 billion websites in the world rely on JavaScript to get the job done, but that doesn’t make it popular or well-liked. As a programming language, JavaScript is that ugly, smelly shopkeeper that insists you give them a kiss on the cheek every time you go do your shopping. You don’t want to, but if you want to get your supplies, you have to. WebAssembly (WASM) is that fresh, young shop assistant that winks at you every time they see you. While it won’t replace JavaScript, it assists in getting the required result faster. For programmers,  a decent programming language will help them get the results they need.

WASM Will Allow You To Share Across Platforms… Soon

Imagine being able to share code across platforms without slowing down the network or compromising the safety of the information. WASM already has all the makings of this capability. With a few tweaks here and there from developers, the open standard should be able to communicate across platforms in the near future. For programmers, this means higher productivity and a reduction in language errors across devices. This means better integration between desktop and web-based apps.

What developers are looking to achieve, is to allow a language such as Python to run in its own development time without compromising the other elements of the site. It would also open up the door to run modules together with different source languages, such as a Rust module and Go module running together.  Webassembly will replace all the glue code that can clog up the browser.

WASM Is Designed For The Web

Three elements make WASM a powerful ally in the browser: linear memory, stored in compact binary form, and statically typed. All three elements contribute to the speed of the language as it runs alongside JavaScript. This makes it a high-demand language for the ever-growing web usage. Currently, there are  4.48 billion users using the web, which means that any language that  speeds up browsers to near-native is a welcome addition. But WASM is more than just that. All this happens securely, which means online gaming, porting from desktop apps to web apps, and using a server-less computer.

Browser Plugins Become Simplified

Go developed TinyGo, a compiler designed for small applications. The compiler allows developers to develop WASM code. WASM is an important component in running on-demand IOTA nodes as browser plugins, and thanks to its compact nature, it will place far less strain on storage and speed than current languages. Using an IOTA node as a plugin can save a lot of trouble, as the Go library is filled with resources. TinyGo will also allow these  plugins to be run on microcontroller boards.

While JavaScript seems likely to stick around for still some time, it’s worth noting that languages such as WASM bridge the gap for more compact and efficient coding. For programmers and developers alike, speed and efficiency mean nothing without security, and WASM provides all.

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