About
We build the tools that put real software in a browser tab
Virtastic is a small engineering team compiling large open-source desktop applications to WebAssembly, and building the tooling underneath them in the open.
What we are doing
The plan has three layers, and each one funds the credibility of the next.
- Ports. 3 of our 11 apps are playable today, including FreeCAD with FEM solving, OpenMW and Jagged Alliance 2. They are free, open source, and kept current.
- Shared dependencies. Porting a big application means cross-compiling dozens of native libraries. We keep that work as a reusable library so the next port starts further along. We plan to publish it.
- A 3D-focused WebAssembly engine. Our longer-term goal is a fast runtime for running existing 3D software in the browser. The ports are how we learn what it needs to do well.
Who is behind it
Michael Stavridis builds and maintains the ports and writes the papers. Find him on LinkedIn or at stavridis.xyz.
Help with the dependencies
The most useful way to help is with the native libraries every port depends on. Building, patching and verifying them for WebAssembly is slow, repetitive work, and it benefits every port at once. If you have done any of it, or want to learn, say hello in Discord or through the contact form.
How we work
- We publish what we learn. The FreeCAD paper, the OpenMW paper and the CalculiX post include the measurements and the mistakes.
- Apps stay honest. If something is a preview, the site says preview.
- Your files stay on your machine. The single-player apps run entirely in your browser.
How it is funded
Mainly by supporters, through Patreon and Ko-fi, plus a small amount of custom porting work. Here is what support pays for.
Where to find us
Code is on GitHub. Questions and ideas go in Discord. For anything else, use the contact form.