Binary format for the web
Classy New Build
© Lead Image © hasselblad15, photocase.com
The WebAssembly project makes a portable binary for browsers, with a focus on minimizing size and load time. C and C++ programs are used as source, which makes it possible to compile virtually any application for the web.
Relocating applications to the browser is not exactly an innovation. However, WebAssembly [1] has announced a format that intelligently combines the desktop and the web. The Emscripten SDK [2] plays a leading role by offering an LLVM-based compiler [3] that translates C and C++ programs to standard JavaScript, making extensive porting redundant and thus building a simple bridge to the web.
Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between the tools and toolchains involved and shows that WebAssembly not only supports applications in the browser, but locally executes programs, as well.
ASM Meets WASM
The Emscripten developers had originally set their sights on asm.js [6], a optimizable, low-level subset of JavaScript. Nowadays, the SDK is also used for WebAssembly. WebAssembly and asm.js have quite similar ideas and goals, and some developers are involved in both projects; however, the asm.js and WebAssembly designs differ significantly.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
There's a New Linux AI Assistant in Town
Newelle is a Linux AI assistant that can work with different LLMs and includes document parsing and profiles.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Released with Minor Fixes
The latest Linux kernel doesn't really include any big-ticket features, just a lot of lines of code.
-
EU Sovereign Tech Fund Gains Traction
OpenForum Europe recently released a report regarding a sovereign tech fund with backing from several significant entities.
-
FreeBSD Promises a Full Desktop Installer
FreeBSD has lacked an option to include a full desktop environment during installation.
-
Linux Hits an Important Milestone
If you pay attention to the news in the Linux-sphere, you've probably heard that the open source operating system recently crashed through a ceiling no one thought possible.
-
Plasma Bigscreen Returns
A developer discovered that the Plasma Bigscreen feature had been sitting untouched, so he decided to do something about it.
-
CachyOS Now Lets Users Choose Their Shell
Imagine getting the opportunity to select which shell you want during the installation of your favorite Linux distribution. That's now a thing.
-
Wayland 1.24 Released with Fixes and New Features
Wayland continues to move forward, while X11 slowly vanishes into the shadows, and the latest release includes plenty of improvements.
-
Bugs Found in sudo
Two critical flaws allow users to gain access to root privileges.
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.