> Software written in any programming language (as long as it targets WASM) is a lot easier to host than existing models.
For the past 20 years you have been able to target x86 gnu/linux and have it running without modification on a readily available server, either your own hardware or rented/public cloud. How does switching from one binary format to another (x86 to WASM) change anything (except maybe slowing down your code)? As I understand it, the main draw of WASM is running non-JS code in a web browser.
Re:The Serverless Revolution Has Stalled
by tarruda on Tuesday October 13, 2020 @04:47AM
(#24763568)
> As I understand it, the main draw of WASM is running non-JS code in a web browser.
Simplified deployment + automatic sandboxing?
AFAIK with x86 you can't just write a client app and have it automatically run on any computer that visits your website.
Re:The Serverless Revolution Has Stalled
by cblconfederate on Tuesday October 13, 2020 @09:55AM
(#24765550)
Are people reinventing java as if it never existed?
Except that it is not. The security and constant maintenance is needed but it is worth in many cases. And large companies can not really off load all ownership of data and applications. The interest in servers actually went in reverse direction due to the cloud effect.
I would say having own server or application hosting capacity is very similar to why you produce your own solar power and store it in batteries - it is simple? No. But the technology is improving and thus it makes it easier for people to adopt this paradigm.
When I see what is happening with WebAssembly/WASI in particular, I see a great future for self-hosting again. Software written in any programming language (as long as it targets WASM) is a lot easier to host than existing models. Also there is interoperability of software coming from different languages at the WebAssemply level as I understand.