WebAssembly, or Wasm, is gaining traction among developers with the release of a stable WASI 0.2 standard and the component model. The potential of Wasm to revolutionize the way software is written was showcased at a half-day conference at KubeCon EU. The popularity at Cloud Native Wasm Day suggests that a tipping point in Wasm adoption may be near. The stable WASI 0.2 standard and component model are enabling practical use cases to be explored by implementers, breaking Wasm out of its niche and attracting a broader developer community.
Examples of Wasm applications were shared at the conference, including IoT software vendor Machine Metrics using Wasm at the edge to analyze high-volume data in resource-constrained environments. The CRI-O project demonstrated how containers, Kubernetes, and Wasm can work together, while the Bytecode Alliance highlighted the potential for Wasm and the rationale behind WASI and the component model. While the reality of Wasm applications is catching up to the vision, developers are still working to make the developer experience smoother, especially with popular languages like Python now supporting Wasm as a target.
Some vendors, such as Cosmonic, are drawing parallels between Wasm and Docker, with the potential for Wasm to have a similar impact by simplifying the use of containers. However, Wasm has not yet had its “Docker moment,” where widespread adoption occurs. The gap between Wasm and traditional techniques like virtual machines remains, despite the progress made in making Wasm more accessible. Interoperability with existing systems and databases is a key challenge that still needs to be addressed to help Wasm reach its full potential.
Wasm has the potential to revolutionize open source software by breaking down language barriers that currently exist. While the challenges of maintaining Wasm components are significant, the enthusiasm for Wasm at events like Cloud Native Wasm Day indicates a growing interest in the technology. The ecosystem around Wasm will be crucial for its success, much like Docker’s ecosystem contributed to its widespread adoption. Wasm presents an opportunity to create a new computing paradigm that could be embraced by developers worldwide. Despite the hype surrounding new technologies, Wasm has the potential to deliver on its promises through careful development and community support.
