Are you passionate about systems programming, compiler technology, or building developer tools? WasmEdge is excited to announce three exceptional mentorship opportunities for the 2026/Term 1 LFX Mentorship program. These projects offer you the chance to make meaningful contributions to one of the fastest-growing WebAssembly runtimes while working closely with experienced maintainers.
Why Contribute to WasmEdge?
WasmEdge is a leading edge, lightweight, and high-performance WebAssembly runtime that's powering the next generation of cloud-native, serverless, and embedded applications. With over 10.4k GitHub stars and nearly 1,000 forks, WasmEdge is at the forefront of making WebAssembly accessible for real-world use cases—from AI inference and microservices to blockchain and IoT devices.
When you contribute to WasmEdge, you're not just writing code. You're:
- Solving real challenges faced by developers building production applications
- Learning from industry veterans who are shaping the WebAssembly ecosystem
- Building your portfolio with high-impact, visible contributions
- Joining a global community of contributors passionate about open source
Three Exciting Mentorship Projects
1. Enhance the WasmEdge CLI Tool
GitHub Issue: #4513
The WasmEdge CLI tool is the entry point for thousands of developers exploring WebAssembly. Currently, it supports basic run and compile commands. In this project, you'll extend the CLI with essential developer workflows like parse, validate, and instantiate commands—features that developers expect from a mature runtime tool.
What you'll do:
- Design and implement new CLI sub-commands for WASM file operations
- Build comprehensive test suites to verify your implementations
- Ensure the CLI properly leverages WasmEdge's C API
Recommended skills: C/C++, WebAssembly fundamentals, GitHub workflows
Mentor: YiYing He (@q82419)
Pre-test: https://hyd.ai/lfx-wasmedge-pretests/2026-lfx-term-1-4513.html
Apply: https://mentorship.lfx.linuxfoundation.org/project/5a701778-f5eb-493b-a8f9-d9a146ccefe6
2. Build Module Instance Dependency Management
GitHub Issue: #4514
Complex WebAssembly applications involve multiple modules with intricate import/export relationships. WasmEdge needs a robust system to track these dependencies, enabling safe module lifecycle management—preventing crashes when modules are unregistered or deleted.
What you'll do:
- Design and implement a dependency tree for module instances
- Create methodologies for safe module deletion that respect dependencies
- Develop sophisticated test cases to validate multi-module scenarios
Recommended skills: C/C++, WebAssembly, GitHub workflows
Mentor: YiYing He (@q82419)
Pre-test: https://hyd.ai/lfx-wasmedge-pretests/2026-lfx-term-1-4514.html
Apply: https://mentorship.lfx.linuxfoundation.org/project/53085238-2bfa-4d26-99d6-2b797e693d08
3. Optimize JIT with Per-Function Compilation
GitHub Issue: #4516
WasmEdge's JIT compiler currently compiles entire modules before execution—including functions that may never run. This project tackles a critical performance optimization: implementing lazy, per-function JIT compilation. Your work will significantly reduce startup times and improve runtime efficiency.
What you'll do:
- Implement per-function compilation logic in WasmEdge's JIT engine
- Create benchmark tests demonstrating performance improvements
- Design user-facing options to control compilation strategies
- Document the new approach for users and contributors
Recommended skills: C++, WebAssembly, LLVM, JIT compilation
Mentors: Hung-Ying Tai (@hydai), Shen-Ta Hsieh (@ibmibmibm)
Pre-test: https://hyd.ai/lfx-wasmedge-pretests/2026-lfx-term-1-4516.html
Apply: https://mentorship.lfx.linuxfoundation.org/project/59fd2575-e4ac-4526-8866-bda78d760533
What You'll Gain
Participating in an LFX mentorship with WasmEdge is more than an internship—it's a career accelerator:
- Technical depth: Work with production-grade C++ codebases, WebAssembly internals, and LLVM/JIT technologies
- Mentorship: Receive guidance from WasmEdge maintainers who are experts in their domains
- Real-world impact: Your code will be used by developers and companies worldwide
- Community recognition: Build your reputation in the WebAssembly ecosystem
- Professional network: Connect with contributors at leading tech companies
Application Process
- Review the project descriptions above and identify which matches your interests and skills
- Complete the pre-test for your chosen project(s) to demonstrate your technical aptitude
- Read the WasmEdge Mentorship Program Policy to understand expectations
- Submit your application through the LFX mentorship portal
Who Should Apply?
We're looking for developers who:
- Have experience with C/C++ and an interest in systems programming
- Are curious about WebAssembly, compilers, or developer tools
- Enjoy solving complex technical challenges
- Can commit to the mentorship timeline and deliverables
- Are eager to learn and collaborate with open source communities
Both students and professional developers are encouraged to apply. What matters most is your passion, curiosity, and willingness to learn.
Take the Next Step
The future of software is being written in WebAssembly. Be part of building the infrastructure that makes it possible. Apply now for the WasmEdge LFX Mentorship Program and help shape how the world runs WebAssembly.
Application Deadline: Check the LFX mentorship portal for specific dates
Questions? Reach out to the mentors on GitHub publicly or join the WasmEdge community discussions. (Do not DM)
About WasmEdge: WasmEdge is a CNCF-hosted project and one of the fastest WebAssembly runtimes available. It's designed for edge computing, serverless, and embedded applications—where performance, security, and resource efficiency matter most.
About LFX Mentorship: The Linux Foundation Mentorship program connects open source maintainers with aspiring contributors, providing structured opportunities to learn, contribute, and grow together.