Learn ASSEMBLYSCRIPT with Real Code Examples

AssemblyScript uses a syntax similar to TypeScript, making it accessible to JS/TS developers.

It compiles to WebAssembly, enabling near-native performance for computational tasks.

Supports integration with JavaScript via WebAssembly imports and exports.

Commonly used in web apps, games, blockchain smart contracts, and performance-critical modules.

Enables leveraging type safety and static typing while targeting WebAssembly.

Compile `.ts` files to `.wasm` modules

Memory management via linear memory and optional garbage collection

Strongly typed with explicit numeric types

Integration with npm tooling and TypeScript ecosystem

Debugging and testing via Node.js or browser runtimes

Module - compiled WebAssembly output

Export - function exposed to host (JS or runtime)

Import - function or memory accessed from host

Linear Memory - WebAssembly memory for data

Primitive types - i32, i64, f32, f64, bool, etc.

assembly/ - AssemblyScript source files

build/ - compiled WebAssembly outputs

asconfig.json - compiler and project config

package.json - dependencies and scripts

test/ - unit tests with as-pect or Jest

Write TypeScript-like AssemblyScript code

Compile with `asc` to WebAssembly binary

Load `.wasm` in browser or Node.js

Interact via JS imports and exports

Test performance-critical functions and debug

Beginner: simple function exported to JS

Intermediate: numeric processing in browser

Advanced: memory-intensive operations

Expert: blockchain smart contracts with NEAR or Polkadot

Architect: complex Wasm module integrated in web or server apps

AssemblyScript vs Rust: easier for TS devs vs full-featured system language

AssemblyScript vs C++/Wasm: simpler syntax vs mature toolchain

AssemblyScript vs TypeScript: TS compiles to JS vs AS compiles to Wasm

AssemblyScript vs Go Wasm: lighter runtime vs Go standard library

AssemblyScript vs Emscripten: native C/C++ to Wasm vs TS-like syntax

2017 – Initial development of AssemblyScript

2018 – Early releases with basic TS-to-Wasm support

2019 – Improved memory model and standard library

2020–2021 – as-pect testing framework and WASI support

2022–2025 – Optimizations, community growth, and blockchain adoption

WebAssembly (Wasm) - low-level binary format for the web

AssemblyScript - TypeScript-like language compiling to Wasm

Linear Memory - contiguous memory buffer for Wasm

Export - function or variable exposed to host

Import - function or memory provided by host