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Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

tbfleming.github.io

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Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#61

Post by solarkraft »

ww520 wrote: post #39
djsumdog wrote: post #15

So the web browser is pretty much a mini operating system. Firefox and Chromium seriously feel like they have the longest compile time out of any package in Gentoo, except maybe Libreoffice. It has tons of embedded packages that it doesn't pull from the system/native (jpeg and png decoders and such). So with a lot of these neat things where we compile stuff or run a Linux kernel in the browser, we've pretty much come…

I guess so far they are just a VM. Still needs to port Linux or some OS to WebAssembly to make it whole. Having the C++ compiler working is a very good start.

It'll happen. Webassembly as a Linux target architecture. It's a solution without a problem, but maybe web devs will find a way to use this to make their development easier.

Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#62

Post by nnutter »

MR4D wrote: post #53
djsumdog wrote: post #15

So the web browser is pretty much a mini operating system. Firefox and Chromium seriously feel like they have the longest compile time out of any package in Gentoo, except maybe Libreoffice. It has tons of embedded packages that it doesn't pull from the system/native (jpeg and png decoders and such). So with a lot of these neat things where we compile stuff or run a Linux kernel in the browser, we've pretty much come…

Just need to be able to run Chrome/Firefox directly in a Docker instance, and we’d be there. But seriously, maybe that’s the next step in this crazy ride we’re all on.

https://github.com/jessfraz/dockerfiles/blob/master/chrome/s...

https://github.com/jessfraz/dockerfiles/blob/master/firefox/...

Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#64

Post by bobajeff »

repsilat wrote: post #42
adventured wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Getting people to download and install traditional software is a substantial point of friction. Average users hate managing software installations, updating, fixing broken installations, dealing with malware, et al. The problem spans from the enterprise down to normal consumers. Browsers as a better software platform, will significantly accelerate the rate at which software eats everything. Most software should ideal…

Really this just points to a lack of vision on the part of operating systems people. There is no reason downloading, possibly "installing" (mostly caching?) and running "traditional software" couldn't be as frictionless as clicking on a link, but that's just not how the software and security model of Windows, OSX or Ubuntu (to name just the household names) are set up. Browsers probably will win, but mostly by accide…

I've been thinking lately there should be a file format that's just WebAssembly along with WebAssembly-versions of WebGL, Web Audio and WebRTC.

With the goal of making the runtime simpler to implement for non-browser venders. While browser vendors could add a profile to run the format.

Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#65

Post by colordrops »

frozenport wrote: post #11
stevemk14ebr wrote: post #3

People might not like it but i really think native apps are going to die once everyone figures out how to optimize this crazy web stack.

I disagree. When people start using native languages like C++ for the Web, they will quickly realize they could have just used C++ to begin with.

You get several things with with Web Assembly that you don't get with a straight application:

* Easy distribution without installation

* No worries about dependencies for end users

* Much more consistent, and in most cases, better security

* Cross platform

* No walled gardens

Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#66

Post by colordrops »

repsilat wrote: post #42
adventured wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Getting people to download and install traditional software is a substantial point of friction. Average users hate managing software installations, updating, fixing broken installations, dealing with malware, et al. The problem spans from the enterprise down to normal consumers. Browsers as a better software platform, will significantly accelerate the rate at which software eats everything. Most software should ideal…

Really this just points to a lack of vision on the part of operating systems people. There is no reason downloading, possibly "installing" (mostly caching?) and running "traditional software" couldn't be as frictionless as clicking on a link, but that's just not how the software and security model of Windows, OSX or Ubuntu (to name just the household names) are set up. Browsers probably will win, but mostly by accide…

It's not either/or. The browsers will probably eventually be integrated into the OS until they are almost invisible. All apps will be web apps.

Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#67

Post by solarkraft »

BatFastard wrote: post #32
mark-r wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many threads do you think the browsers will allow on a single page?

As many as is needed. And as many processors as are needed. As someone who writes browser based 3D games, I need more power!

A web page should probably not be allowed to use unlimited amounts of computing power without asking for permission first.

Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#68

Post by frik »

djsumdog wrote: post #15

So the web browser is pretty much a mini operating system. Firefox and Chromium seriously feel like they have the longest compile time out of any package in Gentoo, except maybe Libreoffice. It has tons of embedded packages that it doesn't pull from the system/native (jpeg and png decoders and such). So with a lot of these neat things where we compile stuff or run a Linux kernel in the browser, we've pretty much come…

Great now we need an Anti-Virus software for the browser, to avoid getting infected by iloveyou.net and co. Screw you WebAss(m), stupid idea of greedy fellows, it's the worst thing since Java applet and Flash.

Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#69

Post by solarkraft »

knowThySelfx wrote: post #16
stevemk14ebr wrote: post #3

People might not like it but i really think native apps are going to die once everyone figures out how to optimize this crazy web stack.

The browser is gonna become like a front for a distributed OS.

Yep. We already have threads.

What I find most painful about this development is that this new platform requires Javascript and wrapping everything inside an HTML document.

Re: Clang runs in the browser and compiles C++ to WebAssembly

#70

Post by solarkraft »

meritt wrote: post #35
stevemk14ebr wrote: post #3

People might not like it but i really think native apps are going to die once everyone figures out how to optimize this crazy web stack.

It's definitely possible but we went through all of this a decade ago with Adobe Air, Microsoft Silverlight, and JavaFX. Nearly a decade before that, in the early 2000s, we went through this with Macromedia Flash, Java Applets, and Microsoft ActiveX. Trying to replace native applications with runs-in-the-browser RIAs is nothing new, but we're at least finally agreeing on the language/implementation, so maybe this tim…

The projects you mentioned can also solve the portability and distribution parts for apps (like browsers can now), but that's not what the web originally was intended to don

This time will truly be different because it developed out of a document viewer.

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