[SF Ruby, March 2024] Rails on Wasm

Let's push the boundaries and open new horizons for Ruby and Rails applications via WebAssembly.

Transcript

1. Welcome to the future? RAILS ON WASM Vladimir Dementyev Evil Martians SF Ruby Meetup March 2024
2. Ruby on Rails A web-app framework that includes everything needed to create database- backed web applications
3. Ruby on Rails A web-app framework that includes everything needed to create database- backed web applications WebAssembly (Wasm) A binary instruction format for a stack- based virtual machine
4. Ruby on Rails A web-app framework that includes everything needed to create database- backed web applications WebAssembly (Wasm) A binary instruction format for a stack- based virtual machine 🤔
6. 3 WebAssembly, often shortened to Wasm, is a cutting-edge tech that lets you run code super fast in your web browser, almost as if it was running directly on your computer’s hardware. The cool part? It’s not just for one programming language. You can write your stuff in languages like C, C++, Rust, or even Python, then compile it into WASM, and boom, it runs in the web browser. Why it's a big deal: • Speed: It's blazing fast, making it perfect for heavy-duty tasks like games or complex simulations right in your browser. • Versatility: Supports multiple languages, so you're not stuck with JavaScript for web development. • Safety: Runs in a sandbox environment in your browser, keeping things secure. • Ef fi ciency: With its compact binary format, it's quick to load and execute. In short, Wasm is pushing the boundaries of what's possible on the web, making it a game-changer for developers and users alike.
8. Wasm • Performance • Portability • Safety Pushing the boundaries
9. Wasm in a nutshell .c .rs .js .rb .py x86 ARM machine code machine code Wasm runtime (VM)
10. Wasm runtimes
11. Wasm runtimes • WebAssembly (browser)
12. Wasm runtimes • WebAssembly (browser) • Wasmtime
13. Wasm runtimes • WebAssembly (browser) • Wasmtime • Wasmer
14. Wasm runtimes • WebAssembly (browser) • Wasmtime • Wasmer • Wasmedge
15. Wasm runtimes • WebAssembly (browser) • Wasmtime • Wasmer • Wasmedge • Wazero
16. Wasm runtimes • WebAssembly (browser) • Wasmtime • Wasmer • Wasmedge • Wazero
17. Wasm runtimes • WebAssembly (browser) • Wasmtime • Wasmer • Wasmedge • Wazero
20. RUBY ON WASM
21. Ruby on Wasm • Browser-based interactive playgrounds • Edge/serverless computing • Embedded scripting engine for platforms/applications • Portable Ruby libraries/applications (prism.wasm*) What's the point?
22. Playgrounds 🛝 • try.ruby-lang.org • RunRuby.dev • ruby-next.github.io • mame.github.io/emirb
25. Learn Ruby 🎓 • koans.idogawa.com — Ruby Koans • Ruby Warrior 🥷
27. DEMO TIME
28. ruby.wasm demo • Let's bring Coltrane online! • Get our hands dirty with ruby.wasm and rbwasm build • Face the limitations of Ruby on Wasm github.com/pedrozath/coltrane 🎷
30. RAILS ON WASM
31. Rails on Wasm • (Many) Dependencies with C extensions (nokogiri 😈) Rails != Ruby
32. Rails on Wasm • (Many) Dependencies with C extensions (nokogiri 😈) • Databases (Active Record) Rails != Ruby
33. Rails on Wasm • (Many) Dependencies with C extensions (nokogiri 😈) • Databases (Active Record) • HTTP server Rails != Ruby
34. Rails on Wasm • Threads and outgoing HTTP Rails != Ruby
35. Rails on Wasm • Threads and outgoing HTTP • Assets and uploads (Active Storage) Rails != Ruby
36. Rails on Wasm • Threads and outgoing HTTP • Assets and uploads (Active Storage) • Background jobs Rails != Ruby
37. Rails on Wasm • Threads and outgoing HTTP • Assets and uploads (Active Storage) • Background jobs • Real-time (Action Cable) Rails != Ruby
38. DEMO TIME
39. Rails on Wasm: Databases
40. Rails on Wasm: Databases • SQLite3 and PostgreSQL (pglite) available in Wasm
41. Rails on Wasm: Databases • SQLite3 and PostgreSQL (pglite) available in Wasm • Persistence via OPFS (future) or Indexeddb (legacy)
42. Rails on Wasm: Databases • SQLite3 and PostgreSQL (pglite) available in Wasm • Persistence via OPFS (future) or Indexeddb (legacy) • Not targeting browsers? Kein Problem!
43. Rails on Wasm: HTTP Server • ServiceWorker for browsers
44. Rails on Wasm: HTTP Server • ServiceWorker for browsers • Simple HTTP proxy for other runtimes
45. Rails on Wasm: HTTP Server • ServiceWorker for browsers • Simple HTTP proxy for other runtimes • wasi:http/proxy for plug-n-play DX in the future
46. Rails on Wasm: Background Jobs • We can run Postgres on Wasm—Good Job!
47. Rails on Wasm: Background Jobs • We can run Postgres on Wasm—Good Job! • Separate Worker(-s) + BroadcastChannel
48. Rails on Wasm: HTTP • HTTP via fetch (see Faraday::JS in RubRuby.dev)
49. Rails on Wasm: HTTP • HTTP via fetch (see Faraday::JS in RubRuby.dev) • wasi/http (preview 3) in the future
50. Rails on Wasm: Cables • Long-polling or BroadcastChannel transport
51. Rails on Wasm: Cables • Long-polling or BroadcastChannel transport • AnyCable (multi-player, embedded into Wails)
52. Rails on Wasm What's the case?
53. Rails on Wasm • TLR = Try-Learn-Reproduce What's the case?
55. Rails on Wasm • TLR = Try-Learn-Reproduce • Personal/private applications (own your data) What's the case?
56. Rails on Wasm • TLR = Try-Learn-Reproduce • Personal/private applications (own your data) • Local- fi rst desktop apps (e.g., music libraries, notes, Trello-like boards) What's the case?
57. Rails on Wasm • Multi-env apps: same code for web, CLI, etc. What's the case?
58. Rails on Wasm • Multi-env apps: same code for web, CLI, etc. • Offline- fi rst 2.0: fully offline execution, data snapshots and replication What's the case?
59. Rails on What? • JS runtimes (browsers, Node.js, Bun, Deno) • Serverless • Desktop (Tauri, Wails) • CLI (via Wazero/Wasmedge/etc)
60. Rails on Wasm • WASI Components • WASI Preview 2 (HTTP) • More compatible extensions (nokogiri.wasm) What's the future?
61. Rails on Wasm 2013 2017 2019 2022 2024 ??? ??? ??? ??? WebAssembly asm.js SQLite3 WASM Ruby 3.2 WASI support RubRuby.dev Rails on Wasm (SF Ruby Meetup) WASI pglite
62. Rails on Wasm 2013 2017 2019 2022 2024 ??? ??? ??? ??? WebAssembly asm.js SQLite3 WASM Ruby 3.2 WASI support RubRuby.dev Rails on Wasm (SF Ruby Meetup) WASI We are here pglite
63. Rails on Wasm 2013 2017 2019 2022 2024 ??? ??? ??? ??? WebAssembly asm.js SQLite3 WASM Ruby 3.2 WASI support RubRuby.dev Rails on Wasm (SF Ruby Meetup) WASI ruby.wasm WASI Components We are here pglite
64. Rails on Wasm 2013 2017 2019 2022 2024 ??? ??? ??? ??? WebAssembly asm.js SQLite3 WASM Ruby 3.2 WASI support RubRuby.dev Rails on Wasm (SF Ruby Meetup) WASI ruby.wasm WASI Components ruby.wasm WASI Preview 2 We are here pglite
65. Rails on Wasm 2013 2017 2019 2022 2024 ??? ??? ??? ??? WebAssembly asm.js SQLite3 WASM Ruby 3.2 WASI support RubRuby.dev Rails on Wasm (SF Ruby Meetup) WASI ruby.wasm WASI Components ruby.wasm WASI Preview 2 We are here pglite WASI Preview 3
66. Rails on Wasm 2013 2017 2019 2022 2024 ??? ??? ??? ??? WebAssembly asm.js SQLite3 WASM Ruby 3.2 WASI support RubRuby.dev Rails on Wasm (SF Ruby Meetup) WASI ruby.wasm WASI Components ruby.wasm WASI Preview 2 We are here pglite bin/rails pack:wasm WASI Preview 3
67. 36 THANK YOU! Vladimir Dementyev Evil Martians @ SF Ruby