Exploring WebAssembly (WASM)
Introduction
Course Introduction
The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) has officially embraced WebAssembly (WASM) as a core technology for modern, cloud-native applications. Originally engineered for high-performance browser workloads, WebAssembly’s secure sandbox, near-native speed, and platform portability now power server-side runtimes and edge computing alike.
Hello and welcome to this in-depth WebAssembly course! I’m Mumshad Mannambeth, joined by Nimisha, and together we’ll walk you through hands-on labs, key concepts, and real-world examples so you can become proficient with WASM from day one.
Prerequisites
Basic familiarity with JavaScript and command-line tools will help you get the most out of this course.
What You’ll Learn
Below is an overview of the modules we’ll cover. Each section builds on the previous one, so you’ll gain a thorough, end-to-end understanding of WebAssembly in both browser and server contexts.
| Module | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Introduction to WASM | What is WebAssembly, core benefits, primary use cases, JavaScript comparison, end-of-lesson quiz |
| WASM Architecture | Module structure, instruction set, value types, linear memory, tables, globals |
| Binary & Text Formats | .wasm binary format vs WAT text format, WASI overview, creating and loading a browser module |
| Compiling to WASM | Emscripten for C/C++, wasm-pack for Rust, debugging strategies |
| JavaScript API | Instantiating modules, memory management, function imports/exports, integration patterns |
| Server-side WASM | Running WASM in Node.js, Docker packaging for cloud-native deployment, resetting state |
If you’re ready to dive into the first module—Introduction to WASM—let’s get started!
Links and References
- Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)
- WebAssembly Official Website
- Emscripten Documentation
- wasm-pack Guide
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