## 3 WebAssembly and IoT
### Why WebAssembly for IoT?
This portability is especially critical in IoT, where a wide range of devices need to be programmed, from small sensors to large industrial machines. Developers can write code once and run it on any IoT device, reducing the time, effort, and cost of development. * **Language Independence*
* Wasm allows developers to work in multiple high-level programming languages. At present, languages such as C/C++, Rust, and AssemblyScript can be compiled to Wasm. This means developers can choose the language that best suits their use case or expertise, adding to the flexibility of the development process. * **Interoperability with JavaScript*
* Despite being an independent format, Wasm is designed to be highly interoperable with JavaScript. It can leverage the existing web platform and interact seamlessly with JavaScript APIs. This attribute is essential in IoT contexts, where Wasm and JavaScript can be used interchangeably or together within the same application, enabling a highly flexible and adaptive development approach. * **Resource Efficiency*
* The binary nature of Wasm enables smaller file sizes, leading to faster downloads and reduced network overhead. This is particularly beneficial in IoT environments, where network bandwidth can be constrained and devices have limited storage and processing power. * **Evolving Ecosystem*
* The ecosystem around Wasm, including tools, libraries, and runtime environments, is continuously evolving and improving. This evolving ecosystem enables developers to leverage new features and enhancements over time, adding to the flexibility and adaptability of Wasm in the IoT context. * **Compactness and Energy Efficiency*
* Wasm's compact binary format allows smaller payloads over network communication, making it ideal for IoT networks, where bandwidth may be limited. Furthermore, the efficiency of Wasm execution can contribute to lower energy consumption in battery-powered IoT devices. Wasm's compact design and energy-efficient execution make it a particularly attractive technology for IoT applications, which often involve resource-constrained devices operating in environments where power supply may be limited or intermittent. This section, explores how Wasm's compactness and energy efficiency contribute to its suitability for IoT. * **Compactness and Efficient Execution*
* Wasm, as a low-level binary format, is far more compact than traditional text-based languages. This compactness has several implications:
* First, smaller binary sizes mean faster transmission over networks, an essential attribute for IoT devices that often rely on low-bandwidth networks. * Second, small binary size leads to less memory usage on devices, an important aspect considering many IoT devices operate with limited memory. * Lastly, because Wasm is a low-level bytecode, it requires fewer processing cycles to execute than high-level languages, resulting in more efficient execution. These characteristics collectively enable Wasm applications to be faster and more responsive, which is especially important in real-time IoT applications. * **Energy Efficiency*
* Energy efficiency is a critical factor in the IoT landscape, where devices are often battery-powered or need to operate in energy-efficient modes. The execution efficiency of Wasm contributes to reduced power consumption. As a binary instruction set, Wasm is processed directly by the device, eliminating the need for resource-intensive operations such as parsing or bytecode interpretation. This efficiency results in lower CPU usage, which in turn leads to reduced energy consumption. * **Reducing Network Load*
* The compactness of Wasm results in less network load, as smaller file sizes require less bandwidth to transmit. This is a significant advantage in IoT environments, where network bandwidth may be a scarce resource. By reducing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted, Wasm can contribute to overall energy savings in IoT networks.