Richard interviews Brian Carroll, an expert in using WebAssembly in practice. They discuss the benefits and challenges of WebAssembly, its slow adoption, and its potential to replace JavaScript. They also explore the drawbacks of using Electron for app development and the efficiency of web browsers as a software delivery platform. The podcast compares WebAssembly and JavaScript, highlighting when to use each and discussing their advantages and performance differences. Additionally, they delve into the variations in SIMD instructions targeting specific architectures and the limitations of WebAssembly for front-end development. The podcast concludes with speculation about widespread adoption and the potential for WebAssembly to replace JavaScript in building applications.
