What is Golang used for, and why should you choose it for your project?

15 Jan 2021 | 16 min read
What is Golang programming language used for

Nowadays, Golang is quite popular among developers, but if you’re not an IT specialist you may not know it. So, what is the hype all about? 

Also known as Go, Golang is an open-source, modern programming language released in 2009, and it’s been evolving rapidly since then. If it had just one selling point, it’d be this: Golang was developed by Google when its programming team realized neither Java nor C++ could meet their specific requirements. 

Does this mean Go offers the best of both worlds? Let’s find out! 

Golang in a nutshell  

The main strengths of Go are simplicity, strong typing and fast compilation times. It is attractive to programmers for sure, as it is easy to use. But why should you choose Golang for your next application? It’s time you get some answers! 

What is Golang used for?

Google developers created Golang specifically to build their backend applications. It makes it an obvious choice for developing any application which requires high performance and easy-to-understand, efficient code.

In short, there are a lot of projects that could be done with Go. And now, let’s have a closer look at everything it has to offer.  

Golang for web and mobile app development

Golang has a powerful standard library and is a great programming language if you wish to develop a web or mobile application for your business.

One of the many reasons for you to choose Go is that it’s perfect for creating microservices architecture. Don’t worry, more info on that is coming in a second!

Go is said to be the future of app development, but why exactly is this architecture so admired? 

Golang for business

Both mobile and web apps need to provide an outstanding user experience to succeed. Client expectations are growing rapidly as the technology develops and it is difficult to please them.

Microservices infrastructure is an alternative approach for building large web and mobile applications. This approach suggests dividing complex apps into many smaller solutions, each of which can function with a certain level of autonomy. In such a way, the final version of the app has improved performance, is more secure, and requires lower maintenance efforts. 

Golang’s architecture consists of independent components, meaning that each can be written with different technology. This allows you to answer the various needs of your clients within one app at the same time. 

Moreover, it makes the Go microservices infrastructure a fully scalable solution which prevents the whole app from crashing. Even if one of the components requires developer attention, the rest can still remain mostly unaffected and functional.

Go in cloud-based solutions for business

If you want to deploy your application in the Cloud, you need a technology that will easily deal with concurrency problems. 

Simply put, concurrency allows programmers to break the program into semi-independent components that speed up the working process and protect the code from malfunction.  

The essence of cloud-based solutions is scalability and ability to share resources. They allow you to access and update both data and documents with no obstacles. For that, it is important that the technology is capable of passing and storing large amounts of data simultaneously and that a failure in one sector doesn’t block the entire process. That’s exactly why, thanks to its built-in concurrency, Go is a perfect programming language for developing scalable Cloud applications. 

On top of that, Go language is known for its high portability and networking features that allow you to leverage all the advantages of cloud computing. Many companies opt in for rewriting their old software with Golang to improve the overall performance, scalability and safety of their systems. 

Well-known cloud brands, such as Dropbox, use Golang for their services. We’re not saying this alone is a good reason to jump on a bandwagon, but as a rule, when global giants get behind a certain technology, you can expect better and more timely support, updates, and maintenance. So you can be sure that relying on Go for cloud-based solutions’ development is fool-proof. 

Machine learning – is Golang a good technology for data science?

Go is often referred to as the future of AI. No wonder, since there are only a few other programming languages that can be used for working with Artificial Intelligence. But what exactly does it mean for your business? 

AI can support your company in many ways. Artificial Intelligence grants you automatization and optimization that allow you to save a lot of time and money on routine processes. Cognitive technologies can help you make faster and better business decisions. You can minimize the risk of making mistakes. Customer service and sales can also be improved using AI. The possibilities are endless.

Go Vs Python in AI development

Before Go language, Python was widely used for artificial intelligence. Now we know that Go is better for writing server-side scripts. 

Once again, Golang’s concurrency sets it apart. In particular, when it comes to machine learning.

In order to manage and deploy ML models, various services have to run simultaneously and fast. Enter GoRoutines – built-in timers and channels that allow them to schedule and, hence, accelerate the processes. Python lacks such an optimization.

Similarly, Go is a better choice than Python if you want your Command Line Interface (CLI) to run on Mac or Linux. Unlike Python, Golang ensures that CLI will work in different environments. 

At Miquido, we highly recommend this technology and will be happy to develop revenue-driving AI-based solutions for your business with Go. You don’t have to worry about a thing – our Golang developers have used it in many projects, so we are experienced in it and can guarantee the best results!  

Benefits of using Golang

As you can see, Go has various applications and can be used for almost any project that requires high performance. But it actually goes beyond that. 

Here are some more advantages of using Golang for your next project:  

  • Lighter complex applications – the binary files in Golang allow for producing applications that weigh less, regardless of the number of features and their complexity.
  • Scalability – if needed, applications built with Go can be scaled or transformed fast and without any problems. Because of its high app scalability Golang is the best choice for small and medium businesses that want their apps to grow together with the company. As for larger enterprises, Go helps dealing with higher volumes of traffic.
  • Versatility – Applications developed in Go can be used with many operating systems and platforms.
  • Speed – this open-source programming language is suitable for projects that require high performance, because it has built-in features that allow for the reduction of memory usage, such as garbage collection.
  • Up-to-date – Go is a young and modern language well-suited to contemporary hardware requirements.
  • Easy to understand – your in-house IT specialists will have no problem taking over the application once the development is over thanks to its simple and readable code.
  • Easy to market – thanks to all its benefits, you will have no problem releasing your Go-based application. But if you still have any doubts our team will take over the implementation and make things even easier for you.

Modern solutions for your business created with Golang will improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase your profits. But don’t take our word for it! See for yourself which globally-known companies use Go.

Best Go application examples 

Golang may be a relatively new language but it’s already used in many successful businesses. Not only newcomers are tempted to give it a go (pun intended), but also industry giants readjust and release updates with Golang. 

Google

You shouldn’t really be surprised by this one, since Golang was designed by the Google team for their internal purposes. But it went further and is now a part of the solutions you yourself probably use every day. The most noteworthy examples include Google Chrome, YouTube, and GoogleEarth. 

Uber 

Uber relies on Golang to implement dynamic prices and to base geolocation on geofences. It uses advanced algorithms to precisely define special-requirements areas (such as Kiss-and-Fly areas around airports and train stations).   

Dropbox 

This is one of the most well-known cloud computing services companies and uses Golang to gain the ability to scale its systems more efficiently. Apart from relying on insufficient Go libraries, Dropbox has also developed their own libraries to improve caching, standard error interface, and more. Another huge contribution of Dropbox is connected to their plans on expanding Goland libraries by providing open-access to their own software.

Dailymotion 

There are many ways Golang can be used to raise the efficiency of entertainment apps such as Dailymotion. This video-streaming company used Go for improving API automation. There are many other streaming brands that use Go to ensure app stability and high performance.  

Miquido’s experience with Golang

As a development company, we have also produced scalable and efficient apps for many companies using Go. You can see all of our work in our Portfolio, but here are some of the most note-worthy Golang-specific projects:  

HelloFresh 

HelloFresh lets you order chef-crafted meals based on your individual requirements straight to your door. Every nutrition programme is based on a dietician’s recipe, ensuring the products meet specific health requirements. Our key goal was to make the application intuitive and simple. Golang has simplified many backend processes, making the project completion faster and easier to maintain for the development team. 

Hub4Kids 

Our team developed a custom web application simplifying the volunteer registration for Hearty Foundation, which fights social inequalities. Built on React and Golang, Hub4Kids became an effective pro-bono solution that lets users focus on the cause, instead of figuring out the technicalities. 

Brainly 

Need some help with solving a difficult problem for your next class? Brainly is an educational web platform that connects students and experts. Our developers built a Brainly Content Tool for managing the answer requests on Brainly.

But enough with the bragging, let’s talk about what’s really important here. What’s in all of this big Golang talk for you? 

Why should you use Golang for your company’s projects?

Choosing the right technological services for each project is a highly individual process. Our consultants and developers usually start with learning your needs and requirements for the app you are interested in. We take into consideration factors such as the overall complexity of the idea, your budget, target market, etc. 

Golang is perfect for creating lightweight, scalable applications and implementing advanced modern technologies. It will be an equally great choice for startups focused on dynamic growth as it is for mature, big companies. 

If you have some more questions or if you are unsure whether Golang will be the perfect language for backend engineering – just reach out to us! We’ll be sure to come up with the best solution for you together. And the rest will go down in history!

FAQ

Is Golang backend or frontend?

You can use Golang for backend development. Golang is an excellent choice for backend solutions because of its speed, ease of use, and many convenient features such as runtime environment or garbage collection. That’s exactly why Golang is in the top 10 most used programming languages.

When should you use Golang over Python?

Although both programming languages are readily used in the application development process, the choice depends on what the application is to be used for. Python is a much more recommended language when dealing with machine learning, natural language processing, or other data science problems. Golang, on the other hand, is recommended for microservices, APIs, and other systems that require fast loading. That’s why Golang is much more recommended for system programming, and Python is better for data analysis and computing.

Why is Golang popular?

Among developers, Golang is one of the most-loved languages. Golang is in the top 10 most used programming languages. This is due to its simplicity, speed, as well as many convenient features, such as garbage collection or structural typing. Golang is also refreshing fast due to its compilation to machine code. Another important aspect for developers is the ease of implementation, readability, and built-in documentation. Because of these aspects, Golang is being used more and more, including by companies like Uber, Badoo, and Allegro.

Anna Kvasnevska Content marketing specialist

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