Day Two Cloud 183: How Did We Get To WebAssembly And What Is It For?
Feb 22, 2023
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Peeling the onion on WebAssembly (Wasm), a bytecode format to execute code, its applications in solving memory safety issues, running code on constrained devices, and protecting users. Exploring CDN 77 and serverless computing with Wasm. Discussing its security model, simplified business logic implementation, and tools for experimenting. Highlighting its potential in streamlining serverless operations and connecting with the guest and podcast community.
WebAssembly offers granular observability capabilities, allowing for deep inspection and instrumentation during execution.
Deep dives
WebAssembly is an up and coming technology
WebAssembly is an up and coming technology that operational personnel should familiarize themselves with. It provides a bytecode-like format and an execution specification that can be compared to the Java Virtual Machine or the .NET CLR. Web Assembly offers a default disposition of not trusting code, which makes it suitable for running untrusted code in web browsers securely. However, its potential extends beyond the browser and can be applied in areas such as IoT, plug-in architectures, and cloud environments.
WebAssembly provides a secure runtime environment
WebAssembly offers a secure runtime environment by isolating applications in sandboxes that restrict access to external resources. This includes CPU cycles, memory, file systems, and networking. The runtime models the file system and other resources, providing a secure layer that prevents untrusted code from compromising the system. This security model aligns with the advancements made in the container ecosystem, ensuring that untrusted code doesn't have access to sensitive infrastructure.
WebAssembly enables granular observability
WebAssembly provides granular observability capabilities, allowing for deep inspection and instrumentation during execution. Developers can easily add instrumentation to track function calls, memory consumption, CPU usage, and more. This level of observability alleviates the need for developers to add explicit logging in the code and enables operations teams to gather valuable insights without disruption.
Getting started with WebAssembly
For infrastructure professionals looking to explore WebAssembly, there are several options available. Docker desktop with WebAssembly support is a convenient way to experiment locally. Fermion provides a quickstart guide with sample applications and a cloud platform for WebAssembly deployment. The RunWazzy project by Microsoft focuses on WebAssembly support for Kubernetes. These resources offer opportunities to deploy, test, and gain hands-on experience with WebAssembly applications.
WebAssembly is poised to make an impact
WebAssembly is an emerging technology with significant potential. It addresses specific use cases within various domains, such as IoT, plug-in architectures, and serverless computing. Its secure runtime environment, granular observability, and compatibility with existing container ecosystems make it an attractive choice for developers and operations teams alike. Exploring WebAssembly now can help professionals stay ahead and leverage its benefits as it gains traction in the industry.
WebAssembly (Wasm) is an up-and-coming technology that's probably going to fall into the lap of operations folks. WebAssembly is basically a specification on how to compile things to a bytecode format and how to execute that bytecode. On today's Day Two Cloud we start to peel the onion on what WebAssembly, what it's used for, and why you might want to get your hands on it.
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