Learn WASMCLOUD with Real Code Examples

WasmCloud allows developers to write cloud-native actors in any language that compiles to WebAssembly.

Actors run inside a host runtime that provides secure capability-based access to services like databases, messaging, and HTTP.

Enables microservice composition using lightweight, portable WebAssembly modules.

Supports decentralized deployment across multiple nodes with consistent behavior.

Ideal for building scalable, secure, and language-agnostic cloud applications.

WebAssembly actors as first-class microservices

Capability providers for access to storage, messaging, HTTP, etc.

Host runtime for running actors with isolation

Event-driven communication via lattice messaging

Tooling for building, deploying, and monitoring actors

Actor - modular WebAssembly unit of computation

Capability - provider for external services like storage or messaging

Host - runtime environment for actors

Lattice - network of hosts enabling distributed messaging

Claims - security metadata for actor permissions

src/ - actor source code

Cargo.toml / package.json / go.mod - language-specific metadata

wasm/ - compiled WebAssembly modules

providers/ - capability provider definitions

examples/ - sample actor usage

Write actor code in your preferred Wasm-compatible language

Compile code to WebAssembly (.wasm module)

Deploy module to a wasmCloud host

Attach capability providers needed for your actor

Test actor behavior using local or remote hosts

Beginner: single actor with local HTTP service

Intermediate: multiple actors communicating via messaging

Advanced: edge deployment with capability providers

Expert: full lattice with multi-host orchestration

Auditor: security review of capabilities and claims

WasmCloud vs Kubernetes: lighter, actor-focused runtime vs full container orchestration

WasmCloud vs AWS Lambda: language-agnostic, portable, and secure vs provider-managed serverless

WasmCloud vs Deno/FastAPI: backend orchestration vs web service framework

WasmCloud vs traditional microservices: smaller, sandboxed modules with strong isolation

WasmCloud vs Node.js microservices: Wasm isolation and portability vs JS runtime

2019 – Initial release by WasmCloud/Cosmonic

2020 – Actor and capability provider stabilization

2021 – Lattice messaging and multi-host support

2022 – Expanded ecosystem and tooling improvements

2023–2025 – Security enhancements, performance optimizations, and wider adoption

Actor - modular Wasm unit of computation

Capability - provider for external service access

Host - runtime environment for actors

Lattice - distributed messaging network

Claims - security permissions for actors