Shopify’s Open-Source Toolchain Simplifies Running Ruby Code in WebAssembly Runtimes
Shopify has introduced Ruvy, an open-source project that offers a novel toolchain for converting Ruby code into WebAssembly modules. Released on October 18 and available on GitHub, Ruvy is designed to streamline the process of running Ruby programs in WebAssembly environments, offering significant performance advantages and simplifying execution.
Ruvy aims to address a common challenge in WebAssembly by allowing developers to build and execute Ruby applications without the need for WebAssembly System Interface (WASI) arguments at runtime. This is achieved by pre-initializing both the Ruby virtual machine and the Ruby files that are part of the Ruby script, which results in a more efficient execution process.
One of the standout features of Ruvy is its impressive performance improvement. According to Shopify, Ruvy Wasm modules compile to native code approximately 70% faster than traditional methods. This speed boost is attributed to the pre-initialization of the Ruby virtual machine during the WebAssembly module build process, which minimizes runtime overhead and accelerates execution.
The open-source nature of Ruvy is intended to benefit the broader developer community by providing a straightforward and efficient way to integrate Ruby code into WebAssembly runtimes. This could be particularly valuable for developers looking to leverage WebAssembly’s performance and portability features while continuing to use Ruby, a language known for its simplicity and productivity.
By making Ruvy available on GitHub, Shopify is not only contributing to the open-source ecosystem but also encouraging further experimentation and adoption of WebAssembly within the Ruby community. Developers can explore and contribute to the project, potentially expanding its capabilities and integrating it into various WebAssembly-based applications.
Overall, Ruvy represents a significant step forward in bridging the gap between Ruby and WebAssembly, offering a practical solution for executing Ruby code with improved performance and ease of use. This toolchain aligns with the growing interest in WebAssembly as a versatile platform for running code across different environments, and it underscores Shopify’s commitment to advancing open-source tools for developers