Stories with Tag Scala

• Chicory: A JVM native WebAssembly runtime

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  Posted: 2025-02-25 11:22:06

  Verbose tl;dr

  Chicory is a new WebAssembly runtime built specifically for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It aims to bring the performance and portability benefits of Wasm to JVM environments by allowing developers to seamlessly execute Wasm modules directly within their Java applications. Chicory achieves this through a combination of ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation to native code via GraalVM Native Image and a runtime library implemented in Java. This approach allows for efficient interoperability between Java code and Wasm modules, potentially opening up new possibilities for leveraging Wasm's growing ecosystem within established Java systems.

  The blog post introduces Chicory, a novel runtime environment designed specifically for executing WebAssembly (Wasm) code directly on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Chicory aims to bridge the gap between the Wasm ecosystem and the vast world of Java libraries and frameworks, enabling developers to seamlessly integrate Wasm modules into existing Java applications. This integration allows leveraging the performance benefits of Wasm while capitalizing on the maturity and richness of the Java ecosystem.

  Chicory achieves this integration through a two-pronged approach. Firstly, it compiles Wasm modules into Java bytecode, allowing the JVM to execute them natively. This compilation process leverages the existing capabilities of the JVM, ensuring efficient execution and optimization of the Wasm code. Secondly, Chicory provides a meticulously crafted interoperability layer that facilitates smooth communication between Java code and Wasm modules. This interoperability layer handles data marshalling and conversion between Java types and Wasm types, enabling seamless data exchange and function calls between the two environments.

  One of the primary advantages of using Chicory is performance. By compiling Wasm to JVM bytecode, Chicory can harness the JVM's just-in-time (JIT) compilation and optimization capabilities, leading to potentially significant performance improvements compared to interpreted Wasm runtimes. This performance advantage is particularly important for computationally intensive tasks or applications requiring low latency.

  Another key benefit is access to the extensive Java ecosystem. Chicory allows Wasm modules to directly utilize existing Java libraries and frameworks, unlocking a wealth of functionality for Wasm developers. This access eliminates the need to reimplement common functionalities within the Wasm environment, accelerating development and reducing code duplication.

  Furthermore, Chicory simplifies the deployment of Wasm modules. By running Wasm directly on the JVM, developers can leverage existing Java deployment infrastructure and tools, streamlining the deployment process and reducing operational overhead.

  The blog post highlights Chicory's current status as an early-stage project, emphasizing the potential for future development and improvements. It also mentions ongoing work on refining the interoperability layer and expanding support for various Wasm features. The ultimate goal is to provide a robust and performant runtime environment that fully integrates Wasm into the JVM, empowering developers to build high-performance applications that combine the best of both worlds. The post encourages community involvement and contributions to help shape the future of Chicory and its integration with the Wasm ecosystem.

  • WebAssembly
  • Wasm
  • JVM
  • Java Virtual Machine
  • Runtime
  • Native
  • Chicory
  • AOT Compilation
  • Ahead-of-Time Compilation
  • Web Development
  • Java
  • Kotlin
  • Scala
  • GraalVM

  Summary of Comments ( 86 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43170545

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users discussed Chicory's potential, limitations, and context within the WebAssembly ecosystem. Some expressed excitement about its JVM integration, seeing it as a valuable tool for leveraging existing Java libraries and infrastructure within WebAssembly applications. Others raised concerns about performance, particularly regarding garbage collection and its suitability for computationally intensive tasks. Comparisons were made to other WebAssembly runtimes like Wasmtime and Wasmer, with discussion around the trade-offs between performance, portability, and features. Several comments questioned the practical benefits of running WebAssembly within the JVM, particularly given the existing rich Java ecosystem. There was also skepticism about WebAssembly's overall adoption and its role in the broader software landscape.

  The Hacker News post titled "Chicory: A JVM native WebAssembly runtime" sparked a discussion thread with several insightful comments. Many commenters focused on the potential benefits and drawbacks of using WebAssembly (Wasm) within the JVM ecosystem.

  One recurring theme was the exploration of use cases for Chicory. Some commenters questioned the advantages of using Wasm within the JVM compared to existing JVM languages like Kotlin or Scala. They pondered whether Wasm offered significant performance gains or other benefits that would justify the added complexity of integrating another runtime environment. Others suggested potential niches, such as running code from other languages compiled to Wasm, or leveraging Wasm's sandboxing capabilities for security-sensitive operations.

  Performance was another key area of discussion. Some commenters expressed skepticism about Wasm's performance within the JVM, particularly concerning garbage collection and interoperability with JVM objects. They highlighted the potential overhead of bridging the gap between the Wasm and JVM environments.

  Several commenters drew comparisons between Chicory and GraalVM's native image functionality. They debated whether using Wasm within the JVM offered any advantages over compiling JVM languages to native code directly. The discussion touched upon topics such as startup time, memory footprint, and overall execution speed.

  Some commenters expressed interest in the technical details of Chicory's implementation, such as its garbage collection strategy and its approach to handling Wasm system calls. They inquired about the project's maturity and its roadmap for future development.

  A few commenters mentioned alternative approaches to running Wasm in the JVM, such as using Wasmer or Wasmtime. They compared these existing solutions with Chicory, discussing their respective strengths and weaknesses.

  Overall, the comments on the Hacker News post reflected a cautious optimism about Chicory. While acknowledging the potential of Wasm within the JVM, commenters raised important questions about its practical benefits and technical challenges. The discussion highlighted the need for further exploration and benchmarking to determine Chicory's viability in real-world scenarios.

• Scala 3 Migration: Report from the Field

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  Posted: 2025-02-06 17:54:50

  Verbose tl;dr

  Migrating a large, mature Scala 2 codebase (a Play Framework web application) to Scala 3 proved to be a generally smooth experience, with surprisingly few major hurdles. While the compiler was strict and uncovered some pre-existing issues, most migration problems were readily solvable with minor code adjustments. The new features, like enums and opaque types, offered significant improvements in type safety and code clarity. Performance saw a slight improvement, and the migration ultimately simplified the codebase, reducing boilerplate and improving maintainability. The biggest challenge was handling macros, which required waiting for compatible libraries or implementing workarounds. Overall, the author strongly recommends migrating to Scala 3, highlighting the long-term benefits over the manageable short-term effort.

  Pierre Ricadat's blog post, "Scala 3 Migration: Report from the Field," details his experience migrating a production codebase, a "medium-sized" project with around 30k lines of Scala 2 code, to Scala 3. He outlines the process, highlighting both the challenges encountered and the benefits gained. The migration wasn't undertaken for the sake of novelty but driven by a practical need to upgrade dependencies, specifically the Play Framework, which had transitioned to Scala 3.

  The migration process began with addressing compiler errors, which, while numerous initially, proved manageable due to clear and informative error messages from the Scala 3 compiler. Ricadat emphasizes the compiler's helpfulness in pinpointing issues and guiding the necessary code adjustments. A significant portion of the initial errors stemmed from changes in the collections library, requiring adjustments to method names and import paths. He notes the removal of CanBuildFrom as a source of some difficulty, though the required changes were generally straightforward.

  Beyond compiler errors, Ricadat encountered challenges related to macros. Specifically, he discusses difficulties with macro libraries that hadn't yet been updated for Scala 3 compatibility. This necessitated forking and adapting those libraries, a process he describes as somewhat laborious. Additionally, the migration revealed subtle differences in macro behavior between Scala 2 and 3, further complicating the adaptation process. Despite these hurdles, Ricadat expresses satisfaction with the overall experience of working with macros in Scala 3.

  The blog post also delves into the benefits realized after the migration. Ricadat praises the improved type inference in Scala 3, leading to cleaner and more concise code. He highlights the new optional braceless syntax as a significant improvement in code readability and maintainability, emphasizing its positive impact on the project's overall aesthetics. Furthermore, the author appreciates the enhanced metaprogramming capabilities in Scala 3, noting its potential for future development.

  The overall tone of the post is positive. While acknowledging the inherent challenges of any significant migration, Ricadat concludes that the migration to Scala 3 was a worthwhile endeavor. He emphasizes the long-term benefits of utilizing a modern and actively developed language, citing the improved developer experience and the potential for leveraging new language features in future projects. He portrays Scala 3 as a robust and mature language ready for production use, suggesting that the perceived complexities of migration are manageable and ultimately rewarding.

  • Scala
  • Scala 3
  • Migration
  • Functional Programming
  • Programming Languages
  • Software Development
  • Case Study
  • Experience Report
  • Dotty

  Summary of Comments ( 5 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42964773

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN users generally praised the blog post for its honesty and detailed account of a real-world Scala 3 migration. Several commenters echoed the author's struggles with the IntelliJ Scala plugin and its impact on the migration process. Some highlighted the benefits of Scala 3's new features, particularly the improved type system and metaprogramming capabilities. Others discussed the challenges of community adoption and the fragmentation caused by libraries not yet supporting Scala 3. A few users questioned the overall value proposition of Scala 3, given the migration effort required. The lack of comprehensive documentation and the steep learning curve for some features were also mentioned as pain points.

  The Hacker News post titled "Scala 3 Migration: Report from the Field" (linking to a blog post detailing a Scala 3 migration experience) generated several comments discussing various aspects of Scala 3 and the migration process.

  Several commenters focused on the challenges and complexities involved in migrating to Scala 3. One user highlighted the difficulty of migrating large codebases, particularly those relying heavily on macros, due to the significant changes in the macro system between Scala 2 and 3. They expressed concern that the migration effort might outweigh the benefits for some projects. Another commenter echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that rewriting macros is a non-trivial task and requires significant expertise.

  The discussion also touched upon build tool issues, with one commenter mentioning problems encountered with sbt during the migration process. The complexity and sometimes opaque nature of sbt configurations were cited as contributing factors to these difficulties.

  Some comments addressed specific features of Scala 3. One user praised the new enums and how they improve type safety, though acknowledging that migrating them can be cumbersome. Another appreciated the enhanced metaprogramming capabilities and the overall direction Scala 3 is taking.

  One commenter questioned the necessity and advantages of the implicit resolution changes in Scala 3, suggesting they may lead to more verbose code without significant improvements in clarity. This spurred a brief discussion about the trade-offs involved in the new implicit system.

  The overall tone of the comments was a mix of cautious optimism and pragmatic concern. While acknowledging the potential benefits of Scala 3's improvements, many commenters recognized the substantial effort required for migration and the challenges that may arise during the process. Several expressed a desire for more tooling and community support to facilitate smoother transitions. The discussion underscored the fact that while Scala 3 offers compelling new features, the migration path is not without its hurdles.