Initial Thoughts on WebGL vs WASM

Key Differences Between WebGL and WASM

• WebGL is a low-level 3D graphics API, offering cross compatibility, GPU 3D acceleration, and native GLSL support within browsers.
• WASM, or WebAssembly, improves website performance extensively, allowing for near-native code deployment with benefits across VR and AR, video editing, scientific simulations and gaming.
• Through the HTML5 Canvas, WebGL enables interaction with other HTML document elements and doesn’t require a JVM to run.
• Compatible with multiple programming languages, WASM speeds up applications and brings potential for a robust, shared library deployment devoid of language specific constraints.
• While WebGL has a slight downturn due to OpenGL’s slower speeds and limitations, WASM trumps with executable, near-native speed binary instructions, effective memory management and enhanced security features.
• In the face of the demise of Flash, WebGL has become the default for online interactive 3D graphics, whereas WASM helps to unlock use-cases that were tough to achieve with JavaScript alone.

For developers focusing on heavy-duty web applications like AR/VR experiences, complex simulations, and performant games, WASM serves as the optimal choice. However, for those concentrating on 3D graphics on the web and want seamless integration with HTML elements, WebGL should be your go-to platform.

What Is WebGL and Who’s It For?

WebGL, or Web Graphics Library, is a potent, low-level 3D graphics API that leverages the muscle of ECMAScript and HTML5’s Canvas to bring genuine 3D graphics to your browser without the need for plugins. Born through the collective effort of leading browser vendors like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla, it is a groundbreaking innovation that offers unparalleled cross-platform compatibility, GPU 3D acceleration, native GLSL support, and seamless DOM interface integration.

It’s the ideal tool for anyone in the technology sphere aiming to create intricate 3D graphic content for online and mobile platforms, owing to its streamlined, integrated construction, and user-friendly design for developers.

Pros of WebGL

• Needs no plugins for implementing 3D graphics on the web.
• Supported by major browser vendors, ensuring widespread usability.
• Promotes developer-friendly application construction with JavaScript automatic memory management.
• Strong cross-platform compatibility, catering to both web and mobile.
• Enables interaction with other HTML Document elements.

Cons of WebGL

• Dependence on OpenGL, which is relatively slower and lacking in comprehensibility.
• The run-tech experience varies based on platforms.

What Is WebAssembly and Who’s It For?

WebAssembly, often shortened to WASM, is a revolutionary binary instruction technology introduced in 2017 that is now a W3C standard. Designed to work alongside JavaScript, it’s a game-changer that significantly elevates website performance and capabilities, enabling code written in multiple languages to execute at near-native speed within web platforms.

This tool, with its high speed, efficiency, portability, readability, debuggability, and security, fits the needs of developers aiming for advanced web application implementations like VR, AR, image/video editing, and more. It is perfectly designed for those who value the ease of converting original code into WASM binary without penning a single line of WebAssembly.

Pros of WebAssembly

• Supported by all major browsers, signifying extensive reach.
• Brings exceptional performance gains to websites.
• Opens up in-browser use cases for languages such as C, C++, Rust, Python, and Go.
• Enhances security by reducing vulnerability attack surfaces and promoting better memory management.
• Efficient packaging enables building of hybrid microservices, thus easing coding difficulties.

Cons of WebAssembly

• Its low-level nature might pose learning challenges for beginners.
• Lack of a comprehensive array of training resources due to its relatively recent introduction.

WebGL vs WASM: Pricing

Both WebGL and WebAssembly are open-source technologies, hence free of charge.

WebGL

WebGL, being an open-source 3D graphics API, comes at no cost. The technology, integrated directly into web browsers, requires no extra plugins or fees. Managed by the WebGL Working Group, which consists of multiple major browser vendors, WebGL offers developer-friendly applications with automatic memory management and no need for compilation.

WebAssembly

Similarly, WebAssembly (WASM) is a free technology, established as a W3C standard. It’s designed with the aim of enhancing website performance extensively while maintaining secure, efficient, and highly portable functionality. WebAssembly can run code written in multiple languages at near-native speed on the web, without incurring additional costs.

Code Examples for WebGL & WASM

WebGL

This WebGL snippet allows you to draw a rotating 3D torus. It requires the three.js library and must be executed on a browser with WebGL support.

// Create the scene and camera
var scene = new THREE.Scene();
var camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(75, window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight, 0.1, 1000);

// Add a WebGL renderer
var renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer();
renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight);
document.body.appendChild(renderer.domElement);

// Create a torus geometry and material
var geometry = new THREE.TorusGeometry(10, 3, 16, 100);
var material = new THREE.MeshBasicMaterial({color: 0x00ff00});
var torus = new THREE.Mesh(geometry, material);
scene.add(torus);

// Position camera and set animation
camera.position.z = 50;
function animate() {
    requestAnimationFrame(animate);
    torus.rotation.x += 0.01;
    torus.rotation.y += 0.01;    
    renderer.render(scene, camera);
}
animate();

WASM

The WASM snippet below computes the factorial of a number. It uses Emscripten to compile C to WASM, and running this requires Emscripten set up on your system.

#include <emscripten emscripten.h="">
#include <stdio.h>
extern "C" {
    int EMSCRIPTEN_KEEPALIVE factorial(int n) {
        if (n == 0) {
            return 1;
        }
        else {
            return n * factorial(n - 1);
        }
    }
    void EMSCRIPTEN_KEEPALIVE myMainLoop() {
        printf("{66f7997927a862c9f57ec7dffc6a2fe6d405caee7001dff533b976d48fe118b1}d\n", factorial(10));
    }
}
void main() {
    emscripten_set_main_loop(myMainLoop, 0, 1);
}
</stdio.h></emscripten>

Always make sure to utilize the above HTML structure for code embedding. Additionally, for “lang-js” and the data-lang attribute, ensure you use the appropriate language descriptor, following the Prism format. The code should be formatted properly based on which language it uses so that it looks as smooth as possible when read on a blog post.

WebGL vs WASM: The Final Showdown

After a meticulous comparative analysis, it’s time to cast the decisive verdict between WebGL and WASM applications.

AR/VR Creators

If an enhanced performance and seamless transition through immersive applications is your primary goal, WebAssembly (WASM) is your go-to technology. With its application in 3D games, VR/AR, P2P services and scientific simulations, developers are handed the solid opportunity to write near-native speed code in multiple languages.

Game Developers

For game developers venturing into 3D graphics, WebGL opens a world teeming with possibilities. Leveraging its cross-platform compatibility, GPU 3D acceleration, and integration with DOM interface, WebGL can provide a tech-stack catered to build interactive browser-based games.

Web Developers

If optimum website performance and capability enhancements are your targets, the distinctive feature of WebAssembly to compile original code to WASM binary, run inside browsers without the need to create WebAssembly code, makes it ideal.

OpenSource Enthusiasts

For the open-source enthusiasts, WebGL stands as a testament to community-driven innovation with its open source nature and direct interaction capabilities with other HTML document elements. It is the web standard for mobile applications too.

Ultimately, when juxtaposing WebGL and WASM, WASM takes the crown for performance-oriented, intensive projects utilizing VR/AR, 3D games coupled with near-native speed. For developers dwelling in 3D graphics and requiring an open-source, WebGL shines bright.