# WASM Compatibility Layer This directory contains WASM-specific implementations that allow KiCad to run in a web browser while keeping our KiCad fork **as close to upstream as possible**. ## Principle Instead of patching KiCad source files, we: 1. Provide alternative implementations for platform-specific code (kiplatform) 2. Stub out libraries/features that can't work in the browser (libgit2, curl, nng, scripting, 3D viewer, ...) 3. Expose KiCad to JavaScript via Embind bindings 4. Override host package detection during cross-compilation (cmake find-modules) The KiCad-side hooks for this are small `if(EMSCRIPTEN)` branches in KiCad's own CMakeLists that pull sources from this directory — see "How it's wired" below. ## Directory Structure ``` wasm/ ├── README.md # This file ├── kiplatform/ # Platform abstraction implementations (compiled into KiCad) │ ├── app.cpp # App lifecycle (paths, startup) │ ├── drivers.cpp # GPU detection (returns "WebGL") │ ├── environment.cpp # Environment variables │ ├── io.cpp # File I/O (WASM virtual filesystem) │ ├── policy.cpp # Security policy (always permissive) │ ├── secrets.cpp # Credential storage │ ├── sysinfo.cpp # System information │ ├── printing.cpp # Print support (browser print()) │ └── ui.cpp # UI helpers ├── bindings/ # Embind bindings exposing each app to JavaScript │ ├── pcbnew_embind.cpp │ ├── eeschema_embind.cpp │ ├── pl_editor_embind.cpp │ └── calculator_embind.cpp ├── stubs/ # Stub implementations + header shims for unavailable deps │ ├── *.c / *.cpp # libgit2, curl, nng, scripting, 3D viewer, frame stubs, ... │ ├── char_traits_uint16_workaround.h │ └── GL/ nng/ ngspice/ # Header stubs found via include paths └── cmake/ # CMake find-module overrides for cross-compilation └── Find*.cmake / Use*.cmake ``` ## How it's wired ### kiplatform — compiled into KiCad The `kiplatform/*.cpp` files are added directly to KiCad's kiplatform library by an `if(EMSCRIPTEN)` branch in `kicad/libs/kiplatform/CMakeLists.txt`, which references them as `${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/../wasm/kiplatform/*.cpp`. There is no separate `libkiplatform_wasm.a`. ### stubs — compiled by the build script and KiCad CMakeLists `scripts/kicad/build-kicad-target.sh` compiles the C stubs (`libgit2_stub.c`, `curl_stub.c`, `nng_stub.c`) and force-includes `char_traits_uint16_workaround.h`. App-specific `*_frame_stub.cpp` / `*_scripting_stub.cpp` are picked up per app, and the remaining `*_stub.cpp` files are pulled in by `if(EMSCRIPTEN)` branches in the KiCad fork's own CMakeLists. Header stubs under `GL/`, `nng/`, `ngspice/` are resolved via include paths. ### bindings — per app `build-kicad-target.sh` compiles `wasm/bindings/_embind.cpp` for the app being built (apps without an embind file get an empty placeholder object). ### cmake — module path `build-kicad-target.sh` passes `-DCMAKE_MODULE_PATH="${PROJECT_ROOT}/wasm/cmake"` so the WASM find-module stubs override host package detection. > Coroutine/fiber support is **not** in this directory — it comes from the KiCad fork's > `kicad/thirdparty/libcontext/libcontext.cpp` (`LIBCONTEXT_PLATFORM_wasm32`). The GLU > tesselator comes from `kicad/libs/kimath/glu_tess/glu_tess_impl.cpp`. ## Adding New Implementations 1. Create the implementation file in the appropriate directory (`kiplatform/`, `stubs/`, `bindings/`). 2. Wire it in: a stub C file goes in `build-kicad-target.sh`; a kiplatform/app source goes in the relevant `if(EMSCRIPTEN)` branch of the KiCad-side CMakeLists. 3. Ensure the header interface matches KiCad's expected interface. 4. Test with a minimal build before full integration.