WebAssembly/design
Design
This repository contains the design specifications for WebAssembly, serving as a technical standard for portable low-level code. It defines the binary format, instruction set, and execution semantics required to ensure consistent behavior across different hardware platforms.
The project establishes the framework for a language compilation target, detailing the requirements for translating high-level programming languages into a low-level binary format. It includes a security model that defines operational rules and safety goals for executing untrusted binary code.
The specifications cover the design of a low-level virtual machine, including the standardization of binary instructions and the establishment of formal execution semantics.
Features
- Binary Instruction Encodings - Defines the portable binary format and instruction encoding used for hardware-independent execution.
- Instruction Set Standardization - Documents the high-level goals and security models required to create a reliable binary instruction format.
- Linear Memory Managers - Defines the contiguous linear memory model that allows isolated memory management for programs.
- Execution Semantics - Establishes the formal execution semantics and operational rules for predictable and safe runtime behavior.
- Portable Instruction Standards - Defines a technical standard for portable low-level code that ensures consistent behavior across hardware platforms.
- Virtual Machine Specifications - Defines the low-level virtual machine design, including execution semantics and operational safety rules.
- Compilation Target Specifications - Details the requirements for mapping high-level language constructs to a low-level binary execution format.
- Stack-Based Virtual Machines - Establishes a typed stack machine execution model for performing operations and verifying data flow.
- WebAssembly - Provides the primary design specification for the WebAssembly binary format and execution environment.
- Runtime Security Models - Establishes the operational rules and safety goals for the secure execution of untrusted binary code.
- Binary Format Specifications - Sets the requirements and goals for compiling high-level languages into a standardized low-level binary format.
- Static Bytecode Validations - Provides a validation-based security model that checks bytecode for safety before execution.
- Module Encapsulation Patterns - Implements module-based encapsulation to isolate code and manage dependencies via imports and exports.
- Binary Instruction Standards - Specifies the binary encoding and instruction formats for portable and efficient cross-platform execution.
- Cross-Language Compilation - Serves as a common target for compilers transforming multiple high-level languages into a single binary representation.
- Abstract Syntax Tree Specifications - Provides the formal structural specification for representing syntax trees used in the binary instruction set translation.
- WebAssembly Resources - Official design documentation for WebAssembly.
