Preface

WebAssembly is a technology that will change the web as we know it within the next few years. WebAssembly promises a world where web-based applications run at near-native speeds. It is a world where you can write an application for the web in any language you like, and compile it for native platforms as well as the web. It is early days for WebAssembly, but this technology is already taking off like a rocket. If you are interested in where the web is going, as much as where it is today, read on!

I wrote this book to reflect the way I like to learn new skills. I will walk you through the development of a game using WebAssembly and all of its related technologies. I am a long-time game and web developer, and I have always enjoyed learning new programming languages by writing games. In this book, we will be covering a lot of ground on a lot of topics using both web and game development tools that go hand in hand with WebAssembly. We will learn how to write games that target WebAssembly utilizing a plethora of programming languages and tools, including Emscripten, C/C++, WebGL, OpenGL, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS. As a long-time owner of an independent game development studio that specializes in the development of web-based games, I have found that it is essential to have a broad understanding of web- and game-based technologies and I have stuffed this book full of them. You will be learning a sample platter of skills with a focus on getting your apps up and running with WebAssembly. If you want to learn how to develop games with WebAssembly, or if you would like to create web-based applications that are lightning fast, this book is for you.