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WebAssembly Runtime for Extensibility

3 posts · Dec 2020 – Oct 2023

What this trail covers

Shopify is exploring and implementing WebAssembly (Wasm) as a secure, performant, and flexible runtime for executing untrusted partner code on its own infrastructure, moving beyond browser-based use cases. This involves leveraging the Lucet Wasm runtime and compiling code from languages like AssemblyScript to enable extensibility for partners. Ruvy, a new toolchain built on top of ruby.wasm, further enhances this by pre-initializing the Ruby virtual machine and including Ruby files directly into

All Shopify trails
  1. Introducing Ruvy - ShopifyIntroduced Ruvy, a toolchain that compiles Ruby code into WebAssembly modules. Ruvy builds upon ruby.wasm by pre-initializing the Ruby VM for improved runtime performance (~20%) and embedding Ruby files directly into the Wasm module, eliminating the need for WASI arguments during execution. Benchmarks show Ruvy significantly reduces both instantiation/execution time and Wasm-to-native compilation time compared to ruby.wasm with wasi-vfs. The project is open-sourced to encourage community contributions, particularly for compatibility with Shopify Functions.
  2. Four Approaches to Debugging Server-side WebAssembly - ShopifyThis post details four distinct approaches to debugging server-side WebAssembly: compiling to a native architecture and using language-specific debuggers (like LLDB/GDB for Rust), using LLDB with Wasmtime to debug Wasm code in a Wasm environment, utilizing WebAssembly-specific debuggers (like Wasminspect), and leveraging browser developer tools (like Chrome DevTools with DWARF support). It outlines the trade-offs for each, including variable rendering fidelity, environment similarity, feature set, and setup complexity, concluding that native debugging offers the best experience for most cases, while Wasmtime/LLDB and browser debuggers are viable alternatives for Wasm-specific issues.
  3. How Shopify Uses WebAssembly Outside of the Browser - ShopifyThis post details Shopify's adoption and implementation of WebAssembly (Wasm) for executing untrusted partner code on their own infrastructure, moving beyond browser-based use cases. It highlights the use of the Lucet Wasm runtime and compilation from languages like AssemblyScript. The post also introduces Ruvy, a toolchain built on ruby.wasm for pre-initializing the Ruby VM and including Ruby files directly.