Why Go is My New Backend Favorite

After years of working primarily with Node.js for backend development, I recently decided to explore Go (Golang) and I'm thoroughly impressed. Here's why Go has become my go-to choice for new backend projects.

What Drew Me to Go

Performance

Go's compiled nature means it's incredibly fast. Unlike interpreted languages, Go compiles to machine code, resulting in:

Simplicity

Go's syntax is refreshingly simple. Coming from JavaScript and TypeScript, I appreciated:

Concurrency

Go's goroutines make concurrent programming intuitive:

Real-World Experience

I recently built a REST API for a client project using Go, and the results were impressive:

Development Speed

Despite being new to Go, I was able to build a fully functional API in just a few days. The language's simplicity and excellent tooling made the learning curve manageable.

Performance Metrics

Compared to a similar Node.js API:

Deployment

Go's single binary deployment is a game-changer:

Learning Resources

Here are the resources that helped me get started:

When to Choose Go

Go is excellent for:

It might not be the best choice for:

My Go Setup

Here's my current Go development setup:

Tools

Libraries

Future Plans

I'm planning to:

Conclusion

Go has exceeded my expectations in every way. Its combination of simplicity, performance, and excellent tooling makes it a joy to work with. While I'll continue using Node.js for certain projects, Go has definitely earned a permanent place in my tech stack.

If you're a backend developer looking to expand your skills, I highly recommend giving Go a try. You might be as pleasantly surprised as I was!