Where Does WebAssembly Fit in the Cloud Native World?

Author: The New Stack, Fermyon Technologies, Matt Butcher, Heather Joslyn
Published: Thu 03 Aug 2023
Episode Link: https://thenewstack.simplecast.com/episodes/where-does-webassembly-fit-in-the-cloud-native-world-W_RLg1hG

In this episode, Matt Butcher, CEO of Fermyon Technologies, discusses the potential impact of the component model on WebAssembly (Wasm) and its integration into the cloud-native landscape. WebAssembly is a binary instruction format enabling code to run anywhere, written in developers' preferred languages. The component model aims to provide a common way for WebAssembly libraries to express their needs and connect with other modules, reducing the barriers and maintenance of existing libraries. Butcher believes this model could be a game changer, allowing new languages to compile WebAssembly and utilize existing libraries seamlessly.

WebAssembly also shows promise in delivering on the long-awaited potential of serverless computing. Unlike traditional virtual machines and containers, WebAssembly boasts a rapid startup time and addresses various developer challenges. Butcher states that developers have been eagerly waiting for a platform with these characteristics, hinting at a potential resurgence of serverless. He clarifies that WebAssembly is not a "Kubernetes killer" but can coexist with container technologies, evident from the Kubernetes ecosystem's interest in supporting WebAssembly.

The episode explores further developments in WebAssembly and its potential to play a central role in the cloud-native ecosystem.

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Where Does WebAssembly Fit in the Cloud Native World?