Shopify's WASM Enabled JavaScript Functions and Lambda Cold Starts

An open mic discussion on Shopify’s new WebAssembly-powered JavaScript functions, Lambda cold start comparisons, and React’s origin story.

Episode Description

An open mic discussion on Shopify’s new WebAssembly-powered JavaScript functions, Lambda cold start comparisons, and React’s origin story.

Episode Summary

In this wide-ranging conversation, the hosts delve into recent developments shaping modern web and JavaScript practices. They begin by introducing their newsletter—a weekly roundup of notable industry news—before transitioning into detailed discussions about WebAssembly, Shopify Functions, and the intricacies of running arbitrary code securely at scale. They then weigh the advantages of edge functions versus central cloud functions, explaining how performance considerations and personalized content often guide those decisions. The group also examines updated benchmarks for Lambda cold starts, noting how language choice can substantially impact startup times. Shifting gears, they highlight Shopify’s continuing open source efforts, React’s ubiquity in commerce integrations, and the broader potential of blockchain in e-commerce. Finally, they explore the new React documentary, reflecting on the framework’s history and significance. By episode’s end, listeners gain a thorough snapshot of current JavaScript trends, major frameworks, and emerging technologies.

Chapters

This opening segment sets the stage for the discussion and greets listeners new and old. The hosts introduce themselves, outline the format of the open mic session, and spotlight their curated JavaScript Jam newsletter. They explain how the newsletter serves as a weekly guide to the most pertinent updates in web development, featuring articles, frameworks, tools, and community happenings. By subscribing, developers can stay on top of industry developments, trends, and best practices—often forming the basis for the topics covered in these open mic conversations. The hosts emphasize the importance of continual learning and networking in the fast-moving JavaScript ecosystem, encouraging listeners to share feedback and suggestions for future discussions.

02:56 - 09:30 — Shopify Functions, WebAssembly, and JavaScript Runtimes

Here, the conversation dives into Shopify’s cutting-edge foray into WebAssembly. The hosts outline how Shopify’s new JavaScript Functions feature is powered by WASM modules, which promise tighter security and faster startup times. They discuss the decision to embed a smaller JavaScript engine, like QuickJS, inside the WebAssembly runtime—a “turtles all the way down” approach that still yields practical advantages in performance. Key points include the role of WASI, which provides a standardized interface for file system access, and how open sourcing components spurs innovation. The hosts also contrast this WASM-centered approach to conventional Node-based environments and explore why minimal cold starts and strong sandboxing matter for large-scale e-commerce solutions. By illuminating these technical underpinnings, they underscore how WebAssembly is revolutionizing both client- and server-side JavaScript execution.

09:30 - 14:58 — Edge Functions vs. Cloud Functions

This segment addresses a major question in modern architecture: where should compute actually run—on the edge or in the cloud? The hosts highlight the scenarios in which edge functions shine, especially for personalized or low-latency needs. They give practical examples such as custom authorization logic and user-targeted page modifications, which benefit from reduced round-trip times. Conversely, they note that resource-intensive or globally uniform tasks may be cheaper and more efficient if performed centrally in the cloud rather than replicated at every edge location. Discussions also touch on new developments and best practices that have arisen with the rise of serverless computing. By offering a balanced breakdown of trade-offs, they help developers determine the best approach based on specific application requirements.

14:58 - 19:20 — E-Commerce Use Cases and Future of Shopify

Returning to Shopify’s broader ambitions, the hosts speculate whether Shopify could eventually broaden its platform beyond retail transactions, following a trajectory similar to AWS’s early days at Amazon. They detail how Shopify has aggressively recruited seasoned open source contributors—hinting at a strategic vision that may expand well beyond online stores. The conversation also touches on blockchain payments, stablecoins, and the potential for mainstream adoption in everyday e-commerce. Although the panel recognizes these use cases might still be years away from broader acceptance, they praise Shopify’s openness to innovation and their ongoing dedication to expanding developer capabilities. Ultimately, the hosts see Shopify’s WASM efforts as a harbinger of new possibilities for customization and performance across the entire ecosystem.

19:20 - 24:40 — Lambda Cold Start Analysis and Performance Benchmarks

In this chapter, the spotlight shifts to AWS Lambda cold start benchmarks. The hosts reference a recently updated resource that visualizes cold start times across various programming languages and runtime versions, from Node to Rust and Java. They praise the data visualization, which compares startup latencies in a more tangible way than raw numbers on a chart. Rust and Go stand out for their speed, while heavier languages like Java exhibit noticeably longer spin-up times. The conversation expands into broader performance optimization considerations, explaining why advanced features within newer Node versions can inadvertently prolong startup. By the end, the hosts emphasize how these insights allow developers to make more informed trade-offs between tooling convenience and the ever-critical metric of application responsiveness.

24:40 - 28:40 — Third Web, React, and Commerce Integrations

Shifting gears again, the discussion spotlights new synergy between Shopify, React, and Third Web—an organization enabling blockchain-related commerce solutions. The hosts note that React remains central to many next-generation e-commerce solutions, partly because its extensive ecosystem lowers the barrier to entry. They talk about how Third Web’s developer-friendly tooling supports everything from stable coin payments to NFT-based product lines. While they concede that mass consumer adoption of blockchain-based transactions may be years off, they see a clear advantage in React’s familiarity and versatility. Ultimately, the chapter ties together how Web3-like functionalities could blend with Shopify’s platform, opening up new paradigms in how online stores might serve a niche but enthusiastic subset of users.

28:40 - 38:23 — React Documentary, Historical Context, and Closing

The final chapter revolves around the newly released React.js documentary and the evolution of the library itself. Reflecting on how React transformed front-end development, the hosts remember a time when its success was anything but assured. They outline the library’s original mission at Facebook—building an immersive, continuously updating user experience at unprecedented scale—and how that specific use case gradually shaped the broader developer community’s adoption. From early controversies around JSX to React’s eventual widespread acceptance, the hosts show how technical decisions and forward-thinking leadership steered the framework’s trajectory. They wrap up by noting that developer ecosystems thrive on the interplay of unique needs, historical context, and evolving standards, then bid farewell until the next session, teasing forthcoming guests and topics.