Golang, also known as Go, is an open-source programming language created by Google in 2009. It stands out as a statically typed, compiled language known for its simplicity, efficiency, and reliability. Its primary applications include web development, cloud services and distributed systems.

Go excels in handling large-scale projects, it is easy to learn and understand. Moreover, unique features such as built-in garbage collection, concurrency primitives, and swift compilation times, differentiate it from other programming languages. Golang also has a powerful standard library that provides a wide range of functionality for building solid applications. Moreover, Golang is highly scalable and developers can use Golang for small and large projects.

In this article, we’ll dive into Golang’s history, its tools, frameworks and why Golang emerged as top choice for microservices.

Golang’s History

Golang is a programming language developed by Google in 2009 with a focus on being both user-friendly and powerful for handling extensive and intricate projects. The creators, Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson, who had previously contributed to the Unix operating system, aimed to merge the strengths of C and C++ with the accessibility of scripting languages like Python.

Since its release, Golang quickly gained widespread popularity and is now among the most popular programming languages globally. Major companies including Google, Dropbox and Uber, have adopted Golang for their projects. Over the years, Golang has undergone updates introducing various enhancements, such as support for modules, improved error messages and more. The language has also witnessed the development of numerous frameworks and libraries including well-known ones like Revel for web development, Beego for web applications and Gin for web server applications.

With around 1.1 million professional developers adopting Go as their primary language and approximately 2.7 million using it as a secondary language, Go has established itself as a prominent programming language. Particularly popular in China, Russia and the United States, it holds a 7% share, securing its position among the top 10 primary languages for professional developers. Increasingly chosen by companies, Go is commonly employed for backend development and microservices. The Go community is enthusiastic and welcoming, which makes it a great language to learn and use.

Golang Tools

Go complier is one of the most vitals tools within Golang ecosystem. This compiler transforms your code into an executable program capable of running on any computer. Alongside this, the compiler incorporates various tools like linting, debugging and code optimization. It is noteworthy that the Go compiler is open source and can be freely obtained from the official website.

Additionally, Golang provides an integrated development environment (IDE) known as GoLand. This tool proves highly efficient for swiftly writing, executing, and debugging code. Equipped with built-in features like a debugger and code refactoring, GoLand is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X.

Furthermore, Golang introduces an official package manager named “go get.” This manager simplifies the process of installing packages, whether from the official repository or external sources. Utilizing go get facilitates the installation of libraries, frameworks and other dependencies essential for your project.

Supported by an active developer community, Golang welcomes newcomers with sufficient assistance. Valuable resources can be found on the official Golang website as well as on platforms like Stack Overflow and Reddit. Dedicated online communities, including Golang Slack and Gophers on Slack, provide additional avenues for support.

Additionally, Golang provides robust tools for code testing. The official Golang testing framework, “Go test” facilitates the swift creation of tests for your code. Complementing this, third-party testing tools like Ginkgo and Gomega enhance the ease of writing comprehensive tests.

Golang Frameworks

Gin

Gin is a Golang web framework known for its speed, lightweight nature and solid capabilities. Famous for simplicity and user-friendliness, it is particularly well-suited for developers aiming to swiftly build web applications. Additionally, Gin offers functionalities like routing, middleware support, templating and an integrated testing environment.

Beego

Beego is an additional Golang web framework focus on speed, flexibility and user-friendliness. Equipped with functionalities such as routing, templating, session management and an integrated testing environment, Beego also extends its support to web services, including JSON-RPC, XML-RPC and RESTful APIs.

Buffalo

Buffalo is a Golang web framework centered on quick development and enhanced productivity. Its offerings include features like routing, templating, asset packaging, session management and a built-in testing environment. Buffalo also extends its support to similar web services.

Echo

Echo is an efficient web framework built in Golang, prioritizing speed and productivity. It include features like routing, middleware support, templating, session management and an integrated testing environment. Additionally, Echo extends its support to web services, including JSON-RPC, XML-RPC and RESTful APIs.

Revel

Revel is a comprehensive web framework in Golang. It emphasizes speed and productivity across the entire stack. Offering functionalities like routing, templating, asset packaging, session management and an integrated testing environment, Revel also extends its support to the previously mentioned web services.

Why Golang is Top Choice for Microservices

Golang has gained increasing popularity as the preferred language for microservices. It is particularly appealing to companies aiming for swift and efficient application and service development within distributed systems. Firstly, Golang is a statically typed, compiled language that is simple to learn and use. This makes it an ideal language for creating microservices because it is easy to understand and maintain.

Moreover, Golang possesses a solid feature set, well-aligned for microservices development. This includes support for concurrency, a lightweight runtime and an integrated garbage collector. Another advantage is Golang’s cross-platform nature, allowing its use on diverse operating systems and architectures. This capability is advantageous for developing distributed systems accessible across multiple platforms. The cross-platform support facilitates swift code portability and enable developers to deploy microservices seamlessly on various environments.

Adding to its appeal, Golang is known for its speed and efficiency. The language is designed for high performance, ensuring that developers can create applications with minimal latency that efficiently handle substantial request volumes. The static typing further contributes to code execution speed, making Golang an optimal choice for developing microservices requiring responsiveness under heavy loads.

Finally, Golang stands out for its scalability. Engineered to support horizontal scaling, developers can effortlessly expand their distributed system by adding new nodes without the need for extensive code rewriting. This scalability feature simplifies the process of accommodating increased demand for microservices, ensuring applications remain responsive even during periods of heightened activity.

Conclusion

In summary, Golang is a development language that has proven itself over time and has become a strong force in modern software development. Originating from Google, it has evolved with a focus on simplicity, efficiency and adaptability. Since it release, Golang has become top choice for web development and microservices. The need for Golang services is growing and businesses are actively seeking freelancers proficient in it. This trend is expected to boost the market and attract more developers.

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