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The Data Stack Show
172: How WebAssembly is Enabling the Third Wave of Cloud Compute with Matt Butcher of Fermyon Technologies
Jan 10, 2024
Matt Butcher, Co-founder of Fermyon Technologies and WebAssembly expert, discusses his background, the potential of WebAssembly for cloud computing, the benefits of WebAssembly, and the challenges and progress in this field. Topics include enhanced security models, Google's early containers, scaling and anticipating requests, comparison of virtual machines, containers, and micro VMs, fast startup times in WebAssembly, metaphysics and software development, effective communication in code development, and requirements of different teams and jobs.
56:03
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Quick takeaways
- WebAssembly provides enhanced security models and fast startup times, making it a promising solution for cloud compute.
- Virtual machines, containers, and micro VMs each serve specific use cases, but WebAssembly offers a more accessible and efficient approach to building cloud applications.
Deep dives
WebAssembly: A Binary Format for Cross-Platform Execution
WebAssembly is a binary format that can be compiled from different programming languages and run in web browsers. It provides a strict security sandbox, fast startup times, and cross-platform compatibility. Initially designed for running other languages alongside JavaScript in the browser, WebAssembly has grown to be a potential solution for serverless computing and cloud runtime. However, early tooling and complexity hindered its adoption. Recently, efforts have been made to improve the developer experience, with tools like Spin simplifying the process of developing WebAssembly applications. The introduction of a component model allows different WebAssembly binaries to interact, facilitating code reuse across languages. With ongoing advancements, WebAssembly is becoming a more accessible and promising solution for building scalable and efficient cloud applications.
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