WebAssembly is more than the web

Re:WebAssembly is more than the web by nostalgeek on Friday July 13, 2018 @11:34PM (#17528664)

> WebAssembly isn't just a cross platform technology, it's also a way to target platforms that are currently walled gardens. Being able to run software on e.g., the iPad without paying Apple's 30% fee and being able to ship features / bug fixes without added delays is a big deal.

Apple still control what API you can use in their mobile browser, and it's not like they are at the forefront when it comes to implementing Web API today, especially when they also forbid any alternative browser on IOS. Ultimately WebAssembly is limited by the API it has access to in the context of the browser (and the resources that are granted by the browser). All the promises of the "web as an app platform" have not been fulfilled yet.

IMHO WebAssembly will play a bigger role on the server, with nodejs for instance as it will allow portable native code distribution.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:WebAssembly is more than the web by w1nt3rmu4e on Friday July 13, 2018 @11:58PM (#17528725)

Sure, that's certainly a factor. But there's a large class of applications that can get by with the API that is available.

I'm not suggesting it's a way to build mobile applications without paying Apple. I'm suggesting it will be possible to deliver a product to (nearly) all platforms using 1) a single codebase and 2) bypassing walled gardens.

Personally I won't build products for an App Store anymore. They're too restrictive, expensive and time consuming to be worth it. But being able to, say, deliver a desktop product (either via the web or packed in something like Electron) and also deliver nearly the same experience to an iPad Pro would be huge.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:WebAssembly is more than the web by pjmlp on Saturday July 14, 2018 @04:50AM (#17529459)

If you can assure the same security quality, then by all means.

Meanwhile I will keep my sandboxes.

[ Parent | on HN ]