So I Started Learning Go
I recently began learning the Go programming language after putting it off for years, considering it unimportant on my to-do list.
My First Look: A Tour of Go
Go is a simple and clean programming language that experienced web developers can pick up fairly quickly.
My goal is to learn Go in under 4 weeks with an aggressive approach.
As developers, many of us get bored when we spend too long learning a new language. We often abandon it and move on to something more exciting. That’s exactly why I’ve set a strict deadline—to stay focused and committed.
The Go syntax reminds me of TypeScript, Python, and maybe even Java—they share some similarities.
Go doesn't care about semicolons (;), and I see now why it's better suited for developers with some programming experience.
Go may not be the best choice for absolute beginners. It has a few advanced concepts that take time to grasp. But honestly, with discipline and determination, anyone can learn it.
One thing I find impressive is how Go handles imports. You can import packages that aren’t even on your server—pretty neat!
Oh yes, if you've used Java before, you’ll recognize the use of main. In Go, everything starts with:
package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
fmt.Println("Hello, world!")
}
The way Go defines variables is also cool. You can use the var keyword, or a shorthand := for quick declarations.
Constants are declared using the const keyword, and you can define typed or untyped constants.
Go also has something called slices, which are like advanced arrays. To be honest, I initially found them a bit confusing. Why not just improve arrays? Why introduce slices? Maybe it’s just the tutorial that didn’t explain it well.
One thing I do appreciate is how Go handles loops. It's clean—no unnecessary complications. Just a simple for loop. I wish arrays were that straightforward too.
Unlike other languages like PHP, JavaScript, Node.js, Java, Kotlin, or TypeScript, Go keeps looping simple. There’s no for-in, foreach, while, do-while, or any of that mess. Just for. 😁
Final Thoughts
So far, Go isn’t as fast as I expected—but maybe I haven’t dug deep enough yet. I’m still exploring and plan to share more updates soon.
Stay tuned...
