133 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
133 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
# wazero: the zero dependency WebAssembly runtime for Go developers
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[](https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/tetratelabs/wazero) [](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0)
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WebAssembly is a way to safely run code compiled in other languages. Runtimes
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execute WebAssembly Modules (Wasm), which are most often binaries with a `.wasm`
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extension.
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wazero is a WebAssembly Core Specification [1.0][1] and [2.0][2] compliant
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runtime written in Go. It has *zero dependencies*, and doesn't rely on CGO.
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This means you can run applications in other languages and still keep cross
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compilation.
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Import wazero and extend your Go application with code written in any language!
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## Example
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The best way to learn wazero is by trying one of our [examples](examples/README.md). The
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most [basic example](examples/basic) extends a Go application with an addition
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function defined in WebAssembly.
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## Runtime
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There are two runtime configurations supported in wazero: _Compiler_ is default:
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By default, ex `wazero.NewRuntime(ctx)`, the Compiler is used if supported. You
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can also force the interpreter like so:
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```go
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r := wazero.NewRuntimeWithConfig(ctx, wazero.NewRuntimeConfigInterpreter())
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```
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### Interpreter
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Interpreter is a naive interpreter-based implementation of Wasm virtual
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machine. Its implementation doesn't have any platform (GOARCH, GOOS) specific
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code, therefore _interpreter_ can be used for any compilation target available
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for Go (such as `riscv64`).
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### Compiler
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Compiler compiles WebAssembly modules into machine code ahead of time (AOT),
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during `Runtime.CompileModule`. This means your WebAssembly functions execute
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natively at runtime. Compiler is faster than Interpreter, often by order of
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magnitude (10x) or more. This is done without host-specific dependencies.
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### Conformance
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Both runtimes pass WebAssembly Core [1.0][7] and [2.0][14] specification tests
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on supported platforms:
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| Runtime | Usage | amd64 | arm64 | others |
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|:-----------:|:--------------------------------------:|:-----:|:-----:|:------:|
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| Interpreter | `wazero.NewRuntimeConfigInterpreter()` | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
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| Compiler | `wazero.NewRuntimeConfigCompiler()` | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
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## Support Policy
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The below support policy focuses on compatibility concerns of those embedding
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wazero into their Go applications.
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### wazero
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wazero's [1.0 release][15] happened in March 2023, and is [in use][16] by many
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projects and production sites.
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We offer an API stability promise with semantic versioning. In other words, we
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promise to not break any exported function signature without incrementing the
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major version. This does not mean no innovation: New features and behaviors
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happen with a minor version increment, e.g. 1.0.11 to 1.2.0. We also fix bugs
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or change internal details with a patch version, e.g. 1.0.0 to 1.0.1.
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You can get the latest version of wazero like this.
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```bash
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go get github.com/tetratelabs/wazero@latest
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```
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Please give us a [star][17] if you end up using wazero!
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### Go
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wazero has no dependencies except Go, so the only source of conflict in your
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project's use of wazero is the Go version.
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wazero follows the same version policy as Go's [Release Policy][10]: two
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versions. wazero will ensure these versions work and bugs are valid if there's
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an issue with a current Go version.
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Additionally, wazero intentionally delays usage of language or standard library
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features one additional version. For example, when Go 1.29 is released, wazero
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can use language features or standard libraries added in 1.27. This is a
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convenience for embedders who have a slower version policy than Go. However,
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only supported Go versions may be used to raise support issues.
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### Platform
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wazero has two runtime modes: Interpreter and Compiler. The only supported operating
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systems are ones we test, but that doesn't necessarily mean other operating
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system versions won't work.
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We currently test Linux (Ubuntu and scratch), MacOS and Windows as packaged by
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[GitHub Actions][11], as well compilation of 32-bit Linux and 64-bit FreeBSD.
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* Interpreter
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* Linux is tested on amd64 (native) as well arm64 and riscv64 via emulation.
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* MacOS and Windows are only tested on amd64.
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* Compiler
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* Linux is tested on amd64 (native) as well arm64 via emulation.
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* MacOS and Windows are only tested on amd64.
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wazero has no dependencies and doesn't require CGO. This means it can also be
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embedded in an application that doesn't use an operating system. This is a main
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differentiator between wazero and alternatives.
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We verify zero dependencies by running tests in Docker's [scratch image][12].
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This approach ensures compatibility with any parent image.
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-----
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wazero is a registered trademark of Tetrate.io, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries
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[1]: https://www.w3.org/TR/2019/REC-wasm-core-1-20191205/
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[2]: https://www.w3.org/TR/2022/WD-wasm-core-2-20220419/
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[4]: https://github.com/WebAssembly/meetings/blob/main/process/subgroups.md
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[5]: https://github.com/WebAssembly/WASI
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[6]: https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sys/unix
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[7]: https://github.com/WebAssembly/spec/tree/wg-1.0/test/core
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[9]: https://github.com/tetratelabs/wazero/issues/506
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[10]: https://go.dev/doc/devel/release
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[11]: https://github.com/actions/virtual-environments
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[12]: https://docs.docker.com/develop/develop-images/baseimages/#create-a-simple-parent-image-using-scratch
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[13]: https://github.com/WebAssembly/WASI/blob/snapshot-01/phases/snapshot/docs.md
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[14]: https://github.com/WebAssembly/spec/tree/d39195773112a22b245ffbe864bab6d1182ccb06/test/core
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[15]: https://tetrate.io/blog/introducing-wazero-from-tetrate/
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[16]: https://wazero.io/community/users/
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[17]: https://github.com/tetratelabs/wazero/stargazers
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