Google’s Go new open source programming language

Written by: Norlaysia

Google released an experimental systems programming language under open source called “Go,” that combines development speed of working in a dynamic language like Python with performance and safety of a compiled language like C or C++.

Typical builds feel instantaneous; even large binaries compile in just a few seconds. And compiled code runs close to the speed of C.

Gordon, the Go gopher mascot, drawn by Rob Pike’s wife and illustrator Renee French. (Credit: Google)

The official Go site characterizes the language as simple, fast, safe, concurrent, and fun. A video illustrates just how fast compilation is: the entire language, 120K lines, compiles in under 10 sec. on a laptop.