Sunday, August 24, 2025
All the Bits Fit to Print
Running R code directly in browsers via WebAssembly technology
WebR allows R code to run directly in web browsers and Node.js using WebAssembly, eliminating the need for an R server. It supports loading several R packages and offers an interactive REPL demo online.
Why it matters: WebR enables client-side R execution, improving accessibility and interactivity without server dependencies.
The big picture: This advances browser-based data analysis by integrating a popular statistical language natively in the web environment.
The stakes: Browser memory limits and ongoing API changes may affect performance and stability, especially on mobile devices.
Commenters say: Users are curious about WebR’s performance, particularly regarding BLAS support and computational efficiency in WebAssembly.