Beyond JavaScript: Wasm GC present and future
- Track: Browser and web platform
- Room: H.1309 (Van Rijn)
- Day: Saturday
- Start: 17:00
- End: 17:30
- Video only: h1309
- Chat: Join the conversation!
The WebAssembly (Wasm) 1.0 specification is a linear memory system suitable as a compiler target for static languages like C and Rust. However, the recently released Wasm 3.0 specification, which includes garbage collected reference type instructions, has opened the door to using all kinds of dynamic languages on the web. Wasm GC compilers already exist for languages such as Java, Scala, Kotlin, OCaml, and Scheme. However, the value of Wasm GC is often misunderstood! In this talk, I'll attempt to clear things up by examining the benefits and drawbacks of Wasm GC at present and how compiling to Wasm GC stacks up against compiling to JavaScript (or just using plain ol' Javascript). I'll conclude with a brief look at some proposals from the Wasm Community Group that could improve Wasm GC in the near future.
Speakers
| David Thompson |