GO 1: Install & G’Day World

1. What is Go

Go (Golang) is a:

• high-performance,
  
• statically typed programming language
  
• designed by Google.

It’s optimized for:

• simplicity,
  
• efficiency &
  
• scalability.

[See 4. Advantages of Go for more information]

2. Install Go on WSL

Instructions: https://go.dev/doc/install

2.1 Pre-download:

• Update Packages:
  • sudo apt update
• Install necessary dependencies:
  • sudo apt install wget tar

2.2 Download & Install:

Downloads List: https://go.dev/dl/

• Download Go Binary
  • wget https://golang.org/dl/go1.24.0.linux-amd64.tar.gz
• Move Go Binary to /usr/local:
  • mv go1.24.0.linux-amd64.tar.gz /usr/local
  • If you don’t move it you’ll be greeted with some lovely errors upon untarring.

• Create Fresh Go Tree via Untarring:
  • sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go && tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.24.0.linux-amd64.tar.gz

2.3 Add Go Binary to Path Environment Variable:

• Add following line:
  • export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin
• To local profile:
  • $HOME/.profile

2.4 Check Go Install

Restart Linux then:

• go version

3. Hello World

3.1 Setup

• Create folder:
  • mkdir gday && cd gday
• Create Go Module:
  • go mod init example/gday
• Create Go Script:
  • code gday.go
  • Enter code into gday.go script

3.2 Run .Go Script

• go run .

4. Advantages of Go

4.1 Performance & Efficiency

• Compiled to native machine code:
  • Faster execution than interpreted languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript).

4.2 Concurrency & Scalability

• Goroutines:
  • lightweight threads
  • Better concurrency handling than OS threads.
• Channel-based concurrency:
  • Safer than traditional multithreading.
  • Ideal for high-performance network services & APIs.

4.3 Simplicity & Fast Development

• Minimalistic syntax
  
• No complex OOP:
  • No inheritance.
  • No classes.
  • Uses simple structs & interfaces.
    
• Fast compilation & execution:
  • Great for CI/CD pipelines.

4.4 Cross-Platform & Portability

• Write once, compile anywhere:
  • GOOS and GOARCH allow easy cross-compilation (e.g., Linux, Windows, macOS).
• Small, self-contained binaries:
  • No need for dependencies or interpreters.

4.5 Built-in Tools & Standard Library

• Powerful standard library:
  • Comes with built-in support for HTTP servers, JSON handling, cryptography, concurrency, etc.
• Go modules for dependency management:
  • No external package managers needed.

4.6 Memory Safety & Garbage Collection

• Automatic garbage collection:
  • Helps manage memory efficiently.
• Avoids memory leaks & segmentation faults:
  • Common in C/C++.