Will <Weak References> to Kotlin objects be supported in the WASM target? They're an important mecha...

# webassembly

[darkmoon_uk]

Will Weak References to Kotlin objects be supported in the WASM target?
They're an important mechanism for implementing some types of caches.
Direct expect/actual to JS WeakRef will only bridge 'external, primitive, string and function types' which is too limiting.

See:
• WASM proposal for WeakRef support
• Kotlin WeakReference type for Native
• WeakReference type for JVM (inc. Kotlin)

[Artem Kobzar]

Could I ask you to create an issue in YouTrack with this description?
We'll take a look at what we could do with it.

[darkmoon_uk]

Created

[darkmoon_uk]

☝️ @jessewilson @PHondogo @Alexander Girke @Artem Kobzar

[Svyatoslav Kuzmich [JB]]

Thanks for the report! Wasm GC does not have weak references yet, we have to go through JS.

Direct expect/actual to JS WeakRef will only bridge ‘external, primitive, string and function types’ which is too limiting.

You can use JsReference<T> to send any Kotlin object to JS and retrieve it back. An example of WeakReference implemented in wasmJs

[darkmoon_uk]

Many thanks @Svyatoslav Kuzmich [JB] for taking the time to provide this 🙌 - I've added it as a 'workaround method' to the YouTrack ticket also.