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deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Lobsters·27d ago·5 min read
The best WebAssembly runtime may still be no runtime at all
TL;DR
In 2023, it was argued that the optimal WebAssembly runtime might actually be no runtime at all. By translating WebAssembly modules to C and compiling them with a native compiler, performance can be surprisingly competitive.
✦ Why It Matters
Engineers should evaluate the performance of WebAssembly-to-C compilation for their specific applications before choosing a runtime.
Key Takeaways
- Consider translating WebAssembly modules to C for better performance.
- Stay updated on WebAssembly runtime improvements and benchmarks.
- Evaluate the specific needs of your application before choosing a runtime.
- Test both WebAssembly runtimes and native compilation for optimal results.
Full Summary
WebAssembly (Wasm) is a binary instruction format designed for safe and efficient execution on the web. In 2023, a comparison revealed that converting WebAssembly modules to C and compiling them with a native compiler can yield performance that rivals or exceeds that of dedicated WebAssembly runtimes.
Despite expectations that WebAssembly runtimes would improve significantly, the WebAssembly-to-C method performed well, particularly against newer runtimes that support the 'wide arithmetic' proposal. The 2026 WebAssembly benchmark showcased these results, indicating that while runtimes are advancing, the traditional compilation route remains a strong contender.
This finding suggests that engineers should consider the trade-offs between using a runtime and compiling to native code for performance-critical applications.