Why WASM smart contracts beat Solidity: speed, languages, security, determinism
Thread386 words
Argues WASM contracts outperform Solidity on performance, language flexibility, error handling, memory safety, deterministic execution and LLVM backing, and expects zkWASM and RISC Zero to bring it to Ethereum L2s.
Key claims
WASM contracts run faster than Solidity bytecode
Removing floating point operations ensures deterministic execution
WASM allows C, C++ and Rust contracts
0/ WASM smart contracts are the future 🔮✨
a 🧵 on why that's the case (0/11) 👇
1/ this 🧵 dives into #WebAssembly (WASM) and its transformative role in crafting smart contracts. An efficient binary instruction format for stack-based virtual machines, #WASM brings notable benefits over traditional smart contracts written in languages like #Solidity
2/ let's unpack these benefits 👇
3/ 🚀 Performance
#WASM contracts outshine #Solidity in speed, resulting in lower costs and an enhanced user experience. This is crucial for applications requiring high throughput, such as decentralized exchanges or games, where performance impacts directly on usability
4/ 📜 Language Flexibility
#WASM offers a diverse range of programming languages like C, C++, and #Rust. This gives developers the liberty to choose their preferred language, unlike Solidity, which is exclusive to #Ethereum
5/ 🔒 Security
#WASM contracts, when compiled down to machine code, present fewer vulnerabilities compared to #Solidity’s bytecode. This robust security layer is paramount for applications handling sensitive data or substantial value
6/ ⚠️ Error Handling
#WASM smart contracts boast improved error handling, throwing exceptions that can be managed, as opposed to #Solidity’s “out of gas” exception, notorious for its debugging difficulties. A win for WASM in software maintenance and development
7/ 💾 Memory Safety
#WASM is memory-safe, sandboxed, and platform-independent, providing a secure environment for your code
8/ ⚙️ Operational Support
#WASM supports 64 and 32-bit integer operations that map one-to-one with CPU instructions, which bolsters its efficiency. The removal of floating-point operations also ensures deterministic execution
9/ 🛠 LLVM Support
WASM is backed by the LLVM compiler infrastructure project, benefiting from over a decade of LLVM's compiler optimization. This positions #WASM at the forefront of modern, efficient smart contract development
10/ in summary, #WASM smart contracts offer a plethora of benefits over Solidity contracts, emerging as a robust choice for a wide array of applications. As the tech continues to evolve and gain adoption, WASM is set to become an indispensable tool for #blockchain developers
11/ the benefits, ranging from superior performance to its flexible language selection, highlight its potential to revolutionize smart contract development. As adoption grows, we might be witnessing a paradigm shift in the blockchain development landscape. #WASM
12/ can't wait for projects like @zkwasm or @RiscZero to unleash the full potential of WASM on #Ethereum's L2 👀 🚀
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