Rust Leads the Way as Most Popular Language for WebAssembly, Survey Shows
According to a recent survey, Rust has emerged as the most widely used language for WebAssembly (Wasm) development. The survey, conducted by software consulting firm Scott Logic, highlights the growing adoption of WebAssembly and Rust’s central role in its ecosystem. The report, The State of WebAssembly 2022, was published on June 20 and is based on feedback from 299 application developers. When asked which programming language they use for WebAssembly development, 45% of respondents indicated that they either frequently or occasionally use Rust, reinforcing its dominance in the WebAssembly space.
Rust’s popularity in WebAssembly development comes as no surprise, given the close integration between the two. Most WebAssembly runtimes, which execute Wasm code in web browsers and other environments, are written in Rust, making the language a natural fit for developers looking to build high-performance applications. Rust’s emphasis on safety, concurrency, and performance makes it ideal for Wasm, which is often used to run fast, low-level code in web environments. Notably, Rust’s success in the survey mirrors the findings of last year’s edition, where it also ranked as the top language for Wasm.
JavaScript, long the dominant language of the web, came in second place in the survey. While JavaScript itself can be compiled into WebAssembly, developers also leverage JavaScript engines compiled to Wasm for improved performance in certain scenarios. The continued use of JavaScript reflects its entrenched role in web development, though it is clear that Rust has made significant inroads in the WebAssembly space as developers seek more efficient and performant alternatives for executing code in web applications.
The survey also revealed some interesting shifts in language usage. Blazor, a framework for building interactive web UIs using C# and WebAssembly, saw significant growth in adoption, while Python also emerged as a growing contender in the WebAssembly space. On the other hand, AssemblyScript, a TypeScript-based language for Wasm, experienced a decline in usage, indicating that developers may be gravitating toward other tools that offer better performance or compatibility. These trends reflect the evolving landscape of WebAssembly development and Rust’s continued rise as the go-to language for building fast, reliable web applications.