What is Go?
Go, also called Golang, is a simple yet powerful programming language. It was created by Google in 2007 by a team of smart developers: Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson. Think of Go as a tool to build fast and reliable software that works on different systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Raspberry Pi. Its structure feels somewhat familiar if you’ve seen C++ before.
What Can You Do With Go?
Go is a great choice for:
- Building websites (especially for handling backend processes).
- Writing network programs to connect computers or manage data transfers.
- Creating software for businesses that works across multiple platforms.
- Developing cloud-based tools and services.
Why Learn Go?
Here’s why Go is worth your time:
- It’s easy to pick up even if you’re new to coding.
- Programs run super-fast and get compiled quickly.
- It lets you run multiple tasks simultaneously with its built-in multitasking support (a fancy term for doing several things at once).
- It handles memory cleanup for you automatically.
- It’s versatile and works on all major platforms.
Go vs Python vs C++
Here’s a quick glance at how Go compares to Python and C++:
| Feature | Go | Python | C++ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typing | Statically typed | Dynamically typed | Statically typed |
| Speed | Fast | Slower | Fast |
| Compiled or Interpreted? | Compiled | Interpreted | Compiled |
| Compilation Speed | Fast | Not applicable | Slower |
| Concurrency | Built-in support | Needs libraries | Thread-based |
| Memory Management | Automatic | Automatic | Manual |
| Classes & Objects | Not supported | Supported | Supported |
Quick Notes
- Compilation means turning your code into something your computer can understand and run.
- Concurrency is the ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time (like cooking while watching TV).
- Statically typed means you must specify the type of data (e.g., numbers, words) when writing your code.
