Show HN: Compiling C in the browser using WebAssembly

corysama wrote: post #3

Is it possible/already existing to have interactive C++ lessons where the user's C++ code is compiled an run client-side in a web page?

Definitely been possible for at least 5 years now. Would probably be a weekend project now.

Re: Show HN: Compiling C in the browser using WebAssembly

#5

Post by marmaduke » Mon, Oct 07, 2024, 5:41 PM UTC

Couldn’t a tcc or similarly simple C compiler be used instead of a 100MB Clang? Where’s the C to wasm compiler hiding?

Re: Show HN: Compiling C in the browser using WebAssembly

#6

Post by syrusakbary » Mon, Oct 07, 2024, 5:45 PM UTC

Retr0id wrote: post #2

> note: it requires a 100MB download Is this how big a clang toolchain usually is?

The Clang WASI SDK weights about 100Mb compressed. We optimized things a bit but still have a way to go (we are not yet compressing in the network). I believe we can serve everything in about 30Mb

Re: Show HN: Compiling C in the browser using WebAssembly

#7

Post by kachapopopow » Mon, Oct 07, 2024, 5:52 PM UTC

marmaduke wrote: post #5

Couldn’t a tcc or similarly simple C compiler be used instead of a 100MB Clang? Where’s the C to wasm compiler hiding?

clang can target wasm already.

Re: Show HN: Compiling C in the browser using WebAssembly

#8

Post by syrusakbary » Mon, Oct 07, 2024, 5:54 PM UTC

marmaduke wrote: post #5

Couldn’t a tcc or similarly simple C compiler be used instead of a 100MB Clang? Where’s the C to wasm compiler hiding?

The whole LLVM toolchain is a bit big. I think we can reduce much more the size. We actually researched on using tcc but unfortunately tcc doesn’t have a wasm backend (for generating wasm output). It would be awesome if they added it!

Re: Show HN: Compiling C in the browser using WebAssembly

#9

Post by 01HNNWZ0MV43FF » Mon, Oct 07, 2024, 5:59 PM UTC

syrusakbary wrote: post #6

Retr0id wrote: post #2

> note: it requires a 100MB download Is this how big a clang toolchain usually is?

The Clang WASI SDK weights about 100Mb compressed. We optimized things a bit but still have a way to go (we are not yet compressing in the network). I believe we can serve everything in about 30Mb

MB, right? Mb is megabit

I only have to bring this up because network providers still insist on measuring bits

Re: Show HN: Compiling C in the browser using WebAssembly

#10

Post by fuhsnn » Mon, Oct 07, 2024, 5:59 PM UTC

syrusakbary wrote: post #8

marmaduke wrote: post #5

Couldn’t a tcc or similarly simple C compiler be used instead of a 100MB Clang? Where’s the C to wasm compiler hiding?

The whole LLVM toolchain is a bit big. I think we can reduce much more the size. We actually researched on using tcc but unfortunately tcc doesn’t have a wasm backend (for generating wasm output). It would be awesome if they added it!

Check out https://github.com/tyfkda/xcc, I've only used the native backend, but it's small and fast.