Go Documentation

This guide introduces Go programming theory, focusing on concepts and best practices for developers using the Codeunia Learn platform.

Overview

Go (Golang) is a statically typed, compiled language designed for simplicity, efficiency, and concurrency. Developed by Google, it emphasizes readability, fast compilation, and built-in support for concurrent programming, making it ideal for cloud services, networking, and system tools.

Go Fundamentals

Variables and Data Types

Variables are declared with var or short declaration :=. Go is statically typed. Basic types include:

• bool: Boolean values.
• string: Immutable strings.
• int/uint: Signed and unsigned integers (int8, int16, etc.).
• float32/float64: Floating-point numbers.
• complex64/complex128: Complex numbers.

Composite types include arrays, slices, maps, structs, and channels.

Strings

Strings are UTF-8 encoded. The strings package provides manipulation functions.

Arrays and Slices

Arrays have fixed size; slices are dynamic views into arrays. Slices support appending and slicing operations.

Maps

Maps are key-value stores, similar to dictionaries. They are reference types and support built-in operations.

Control Flow

Conditional Statements

if statements control branching. No ternary operator; use if for concise conditionals.

Loops

Go has only the for loop, which handles all iteration types (counter, range, while-like).

Functions

Functions are first-class citizens. They can return multiple values and support variadic arguments. Anonymous functions and closures are supported.

Structs and Methods

Structs define custom types. Methods are functions attached to types, enabling object-oriented programming.

Interfaces

Interfaces define method sets. Go uses implicit implementation, promoting composition over inheritance.

Error Handling

Errors are values returned from functions. The error interface and errors package handle error management. Defer statements ensure cleanup.

Goroutines and Channels

Concurrency uses goroutines (lightweight threads) and channels for communication. This model simplifies concurrent programming.

Packages and Modules

Code is organized into packages. Go modules manage dependencies and versioning.

Best Practices

Follow Go idioms: use short variable names, handle errors explicitly, and prefer composition. Use gofmt for consistent formatting.

Testing

The testing package supports unit tests. Benchmarks measure performance.

Performance Optimization

Go's garbage collector and compilation optimizations provide good performance. Profile with pprof for bottlenecks.

Deployment

Go compiles to single binaries, simplifying deployment. Cross-compilation supports multiple platforms.

Resources and References

• Go Official Documentation
• Effective Go
• Go Tour

Troubleshooting

Common issues include nil pointer dereferences, race conditions, and import errors. Use go vet and go race for detection.

Development Setup

Install Go, set up GOPATH or use modules, and use an IDE with Go support. Version control and CI/CD pipelines are recommended.