Linux Foundation launches free WebAssembly course

Do you want to learn more about WebAssembly? This new computer programming language for the web is steadily gaining popularity, making it a possible area of upskilling for web developers. Non-profit organisation Linux Foundation has recently released Introduction to WebAssembly, a free WebAssembly course to help individuals get up to speed with WebAssembly on edX.

WebAssembly.org describes WebAssembly (abbreviated wasm) as a binary instruction format for a stack-based virtual machine designed as a portable compilation target for programming languages, enabling deployment on the web for client and server applications.

WebAssembly is fast, safe, and designed in a way that makes it compatible with other web technologies, said the organisation.

Free WebAssembly course

Linux Foundation’s course, Introduction to WebAssembly, was developed and conducted by Colin Eberhardt, Technology Director at Scott Logic, a UK-based software consultancy. It uses a mix of video, written material, and hands-on exercises to familiarise students with WebAssembly and how it can be leveraged in and beyond the browser. 

The seven-week, self-paced course is designed for web, cloud, and blockchain developers, architects, and CTOs interested in learning about WebAssembly’s strengths and limitations, and its potential applications in blockchain, serverless, and edge/IoT.

WebAssembly is referred to as the fourth “official” language of the web, alongside JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. 

The course explores how WebAssembly runs “under the hood”, and how you can leverage its capabilities in and beyond the browser. 

Learners will explore a series of potential applications in different industries, and have a peek at upcoming features. This course is designed to show learners what the WebAssembly runtime is, and how it provides a secure, fast, and efficient compilation target for a wide range of modern programming languages, allowing them to target the browser.

Other WebAssembly tutorials for learners

Several other platforms also offer paid options of WebAssembly courses.

If you’re a LinkedIn premium subscriber, you might be interested in WebAssembly: Accessing C and C++ in Web Applications, an advanced-level course that focuses on the practical uses of the technology: converting C and C++ code to WebAssembly and executing WebAssembly in JavaScript. 

“Programmer and engineer Matt Scarpino demonstrates the power of the WebAssembly, implementing quick sort and matrix multiplication algorithms. He also reviews advanced features, such as debugging and the WebAssembly text format. By the end of the course, you’ll understand the massive potential WebAssembly represents and be ready to implement it in your next web project,” it said. 

Udemy offers WebAssembly Beginner to Advanced 2020, a highly rated course that will teach you what WebAssembly is, how you can use it, and benefit from its capabilities. The course starts from the basics and advances to complicated topics. It is ideal for web developers as well as C/C++ developers who want to get into web development.