WebAssembly Components: From Cloud to Edge from edX

This course is designed for developers who have built or are building microservices and have experienced a high degree of friction in cloud native application development. Developers looking to embrace the simplicity of Functions as a Service (FaaS) without the overhead of cloud providers or sacrificing the ability to experiment and test locally and in any other environment will gain significant value from this course.

In this course, you will learn foundational Rust skills such as creating and hosting WebAssembly modules. You will explore the JavaScript WebAssembly API for browsers and multiple alternative, non-web host runtimes for WebAssembly. You will become familiar with the benefits and usage of the component model and gain the ability to easily create distributed, cloud native applications using secure WebAssembly modules as a deployment target by leveraging open source projects. You will also be able to differentiate between the features and functionality afforded by the base WebAssembly specification versus additional features added by community tooling and open source projects, and have a clear understanding of how WebAssembly-based applications really work.

After completing this course, you will be able to build portable, secure, lightweight WebAssembly modules that thrive in the cloud, at the edge, and anywhere in between.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Develop foundational rust skills, including creating and hosting webassembly modules.
Utilize the javascript webassembly api for browsers.
Introduce various alternative runtimes for webassembly beyond traditional web hosts.
Analyze the benefits and usage of the component model.

Construct distributed, cloud native applications using secure webassembly modules as a deployment target by leveraging open source projects.
Differentiate the features and functionality afforded by the base webassembly specification versus additional features added by community tooling and open source projects.
Explain how webassembly-based applications really work.

Develop foundational rust skills, including creating and hosting webassembly modules.
Utilize the javascript webassembly api for browsers.
Introduce various alternative runtimes for webassembly beyond traditional web hosts.
Analyze the benefits and usage of the component model.
Construct distributed, cloud native applications using secure webassembly modules as a deployment target by leveraging open source projects.
Differentiate the features and functionality afforded by the base webassembly specification versus additional features added by community tooling and open source projects.
Explain how webassembly-based applications really work.

Syllabus

Welcome!

Chapter 1. Creating WebAssembly Modules from Scratch

Chapter 2. WebAssembly with Rust

Chapter 3. Using WebAssembly Host Runtimes

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on creating distributed, cloud native applications using secure WebAssembly modules, which is highly relevant for microservices architecture

Embraces the simplicity of Functions as a Service (FaaS) without the overhead of cloud providers, which is a core tenet of modern application development

Explores the JavaScript WebAssembly API for browsers and multiple alternative, non-web host runtimes for WebAssembly, expanding deployment options

Requires foundational Rust skills, which may necessitate additional learning for developers unfamiliar with the language

Differentiates between the base WebAssembly specification and community tooling, providing a comprehensive understanding of the WebAssembly ecosystem

Presented by The Linux Foundation, which is known for its contributions to open-source technologies and the Linux operating system

Reviews summary

Webassembly for cloud and edge development

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive exploration of WebAssembly components, particularly its application in cloud-native and edge computing environments. Many find it provides a solid foundation for developers looking to leverage WebAssembly outside the browser, especially when integrating with Rust. The coverage of the component model is highlighted as a key strength and highly relevant topic. However, some reviews indicate that the course can be quite challenging, particularly regarding Rust prerequisites and the practical labs and setup, which some found difficult to troubleshoot. The course is seen as very relevant for professional developers but requires dedicated effort.

Explains the crucial WebAssembly component model.

"Excellent course... Component model explanation was a highlight. Very relevant content."

"Fantastic deep dive into the component model. This is cutting edge stuff and the course explains it clearly."

"Understanding the component model was a primary goal for me, and this course delivered effectively."

"The sections on the component model were the most valuable part of the course for me."

Focuses on practical, modern use cases.

"Excellent course. The focus on cloud-native and edge use cases is spot on for my job. Component model explanation was a highlight. Very relevant content."

"Highly recommend this course! Cleared up many misconceptions about WebAssembly outside the browser. The "Cloud to Edge" angle is perfect."

"Useful course covering an important emerging technology... very valuable for future proofing skills."

"I found the content highly relevant to my work in distributed systems and microservices."

Provides a strong base in WebAssembly concepts.

"Great course! Learned a lot about Wasm and the component model. The Rust examples were clear and the host runtime section was very helpful."

"Solid introduction. Covers the fundamentals well... Good foundation."

"This course provided me with a strong foundation in using WebAssembly for cloud and edge applications."

"I gained a solid foundation from completing this course, especially regarding WebAssembly runtimes."

Practical exercises can be difficult to complete.

"Solid introduction. Labs were practical, but setup could be a bit finicky."

"Struggled with the labs. Error messages were cryptic and troubleshooting felt isolating."

"Labs helped reinforce concepts but needed more guidance."

"Getting the development environment set up for the labs took significant effort and time."

Assumes prior familiarity with the Rust language.

"Found it quite challenging. Assumes more Rust knowledge than I had. Pace was fast."

"Make sure you're comfortable with Rust basics before starting."

"Some parts of the Rust code felt a bit advanced if you're not already proficient."

"I struggled initially because my Rust experience was limited, and the course moves quickly through the code examples."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in WebAssembly Components: From Cloud to Edge with these activities:

Review Basic Rust Syntax

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental Rust syntax to prepare for the Rust-heavy sections of the course.

Browse courses on Rust

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Work through a Rust tutorial covering variables, data types, and control flow.
Write small Rust programs to practice using different syntax elements.
Review common Rust error messages and how to resolve them.

Read 'Programming WebAssembly with Rust'

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Deepen your understanding of WebAssembly development with Rust by studying a dedicated book on the subject.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the book cover to cover, paying close attention to code examples.
Experiment with the code examples provided in the book.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

Practice WebAssembly Text Format (WAT) Exercises

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Improve your ability to read and write WebAssembly code directly by practicing with WAT exercises.

Browse courses on WebAssembly

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Find online resources that provide WAT exercises.
Complete the exercises, focusing on understanding the structure and semantics of WAT code.
Use a WebAssembly compiler to verify the correctness of your WAT code.

Four other activities

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Write a Blog Post on WebAssembly Security

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Reinforce your understanding of WebAssembly security by researching and writing a blog post on the topic.

Browse courses on Security

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Research the security features of WebAssembly.
Identify potential security vulnerabilities in WebAssembly applications.
Write a blog post that explains WebAssembly security concepts and best practices.

Build a Simple WebAssembly Component

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Solidify your understanding of the WebAssembly component model by building a small, self-contained component.

Browse courses on Components

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Define the interface for your component.
Implement the component in Rust or another supported language.
Compile the component to WebAssembly.
Integrate the component into a host environment (e.g., a web page or a server-side application).

Read 'WebAssembly in Action'

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Expand your knowledge of WebAssembly by reading a book that covers a wide range of topics and use cases.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on the chapters that are most relevant to your interests.
Try out the code examples provided in the book.
Consider how you can apply the concepts learned in the book to your own projects.

Contribute to a WebAssembly Open Source Project

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Deepen your understanding of WebAssembly by contributing to an open source project.

Browse courses on WebAssembly

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Find a WebAssembly open source project that interests you.
Review the project's documentation and code.
Identify a bug or feature that you can contribute to.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete WebAssembly Components: From Cloud to Edge will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

WebAssembly Engineer

A WebAssembly Engineer works specifically with WebAssembly technology, and this course provides a strong foundation for this work. You will gain practical skills in creating and hosting WebAssembly modules by working with Rust, and explore various runtimes beyond browsers. The ability to leverage the component model and build distributed applications with secure WebAssembly modules will make you a valuable asset at any organization working with this new technology. Furthermore, you will gain a deeper understanding of the differences between the base specification and added features by community tooling.

See salaries and explore the career path for WebAssembly Engineer

Microservices Developer

A Microservices Developer creates and manages small, independent services that make up a larger application. This course is directly applicable because it focuses on using WebAssembly, which is useful for isolating microservices and making them portable. You will learn to create and host WebAssembly modules, and explore different host runtimes, which can help in deploying services in various environments. The course focuses on building distributed applications using secure WebAssembly modules, and can help a Microservices Developer develop lightweight, secure, and efficient services. This course was specifically designed for developers dealing with friction with existing microservice architecture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Microservices Developer

Edge Computing Developer

An Edge Computing Developer builds applications that run on edge devices, and this course is particularly relevant to this role. The ability to build lightweight WebAssembly modules is crucial in edge computing due to resource constraints on devices. You also learn to utilize various non-web host runtimes, that may be needed to deploy applications on diverse edge hardware. You will be able to create portable, secure applications that can run at the edge by learning to leverage the component model and building distributed applications. This course focuses on these very skills, which are critical to success as an Edge Computing Developer.

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Cloud Native Developer

A Cloud Native Developer builds and maintains applications designed to run in cloud environments, and this course is squarely relevant for those looking to use WebAssembly in this context. You will learn to create portable, secure, and lightweight WebAssembly modules, which can be crucial for optimizing performance and resource utilization in cloud native architectures. This course’s focus on creating distributed applications using WebAssembly modules, along with open source projects, directly helps a Cloud Native Developer build efficient and scalable cloud-based solutions. You will understand how WebAssembly works, which allows you to leverage it more effectively in a cloud native context.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Native Developer

Platform Engineer

A Platform Engineer builds and maintains the infrastructure and tools that other developers use. This course helps a Platform Engineer understand how to build and support applications using WebAssembly technology. Learning to create WebAssembly modules, use various host runtimes, and working with the component model may give Platform Engineers the required skills to create platforms that can host WebAssembly-based applications. You will learn to support secure and lightweight modules, which can assist you in building more efficient and reliable platforms. This course directly aligns with the needs of building environments to support WebAssembly applications.

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Rust Developer

A Rust Developer programs primarily in the Rust language. This course helps create WebAssembly modules using the Rust language. By gaining a deeper understanding of the Rust programming language, a Rust Developer can use Rust to create performant and secure WebAssembly applications. You will explore how to create, host, and use WebAssembly modules, which is very useful in building a robust technical foundation. This course helps a Rust Developer gain more skills in creating modern applications with new technology.

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DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer focuses on the deployment and management of applications, and this course is valuable for understanding how WebAssembly can impact those processes. You will learn to build portable WebAssembly modules that work across multiple environments. The ability to understand and use different WebAssembly host runtimes means a DevOps Engineer can effectively deploy and manage WebAssembly-based applications. This course may be particularly useful by exploring how WebAssembly can achieve secure and lightweight deployments. This will improve a DevOps Engineer's ability to optimize application deployments.

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Application Architect

An Application Architect designs the structure and components of software systems. This course may be useful for those architects who wish to explore WebAssembly’s potential for building scalable, secure, and portable applications. Learning to create WebAssembly modules, use different runtimes, and leveraging the component model helps one understand how applications are created. An understanding of the differences between the core WebAssembly specification and additional features provided by the community helps the Application Architect make informed decisions while designing the software system. You may find the specific focus on distributed cloud native applications to be useful in today’s technology landscape.

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Embedded Systems Engineer

An Embedded Systems Engineer develops software and firmware for embedded devices. This course may be useful by introducing how to create lightweight and portable WebAssembly modules, which are valuable in resource-constrained environments. You will learn to utilize various non-web host runtimes, which allows for more deployment options for embedded devices. Learning to create secure modules will improve the ability of the Embedded System Engineer to protect their software. This course introduces core concepts that are helpful in the field of embedded systems.

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Full-Stack Developer

A Full Stack Developer works on both the front-end and back-end of web applications. This course may be useful in that it offers a deeper understanding of alternative runtimes for WebAssembly beyond traditional web browsers. The skills taught here may allow a developer to create more performant web applications by using WebAssembly at the edge. By creating portable and lightweight WebAssembly modules, the Full Stack Developer improves their ability to create modern web applications. Learning to leverage the component model and build distributed applications may improve the Full Stack Developer's ability to create more efficient and performant applications, both front-end and back-end.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course may be useful because it helps build a foundation in WebAssembly and its practical applications in modern software development. By learning to create WebAssembly modules, use various host runtimes, and work with the component model, a Software Engineer can greatly expand their ability to develop performant and portable applications. This course’s focus on creating secure modules and understanding how WebAssembly-based applications work may make a Software Engineer more competitive. The skills you will gain from this course may allow you to develop more efficient applications.

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Backend Developer

A Backend Developer creates the server-side logic and databases for applications. This course may be useful to a Backend Developer by teaching them to create more performant and secure applications. By creating and deploying WebAssembly modules using different runtimes, a Backend Developer can build more efficient server applications. This course focuses on creating distributed, cloud native applications using secure WebAssembly modules. This approach may assist the Backend Developer by learning an alternate strategy to backend application development. This course helps to introduce a new paradigm useful for server-side development.

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Mobile Application Developer

A Mobile Application Developer creates applications for mobile devices. This course may be useful by showing how WebAssembly can be used to create cross-platform applications, and improve application performance on mobile devices. You will learn how to create and deploy WebAssembly modules, and understand how they function in different runtimes. This can allow developers to create more efficient mobile applications. The ability to create secure modules and leverage the component model gives the Mobile Application Developer more tools to develop well performing applications. This course introduces a set of concepts and skills useful in the field of mobile development.

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Solutions Architect

A Solutions Architect designs and implements technology solutions. This course may be useful for solutions architects that wish to explore more cutting edge technology. You will be able to develop a deeper understanding of the uses of WebAssembly, and its suitability for various scenarios. Learning how to create WebAssembly modules and how they work in different runtimes can make a Solutions Architect better able to design efficient and portable applications. An understanding of the component model and how to create distributed cloud native applications using secure WebAssembly modules can help the Solutions Architect better serve their clients by introducing new and improved technology.

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Systems Programmer

A Systems Programmer works at a low level, often with operating systems and hardware. This course may be useful because it gives an understanding of how WebAssembly interacts with host environments, including runtimes beyond traditional web browsers. You will learn to work with low level module creation using languages like Rust. The course explores the foundations of WebAssembly, and may be useful for understanding how to write code that uses operating system resources. You may also benefit from the focus on secure modules and interprocess communication. Systems Programmers may find the knowledge of different runtimes and architectures very useful.

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WebAssembly Components

From Cloud to Edge

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

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Reviews summary

Webassembly for cloud and edge development

Activities

Career center

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