Google’s Go: A New Programming Language That’s Python Meets C++

Tech Crunch ^ | November 10, 2009 | Jason Kincaid

[nickcarraway]

Big news for developers out there: Google has just announced the release of a new, open sourced programming language called Go. The company says that Go is experimental, and that it combines the performance and security benefits associated with using a compiled language like C++ with the speed of a dynamic language like Python. Go’s official mascot is Gordon the gopher, seen here.

Here’s how Google describes Go in its blog post:

Go attempts to combine the development speed of working in a dynamic language like Python with the performance and safety of a compiled language like C or C++. In our experiments with Go to date, typical builds feel instantaneous; even large binaries compile in just a few seconds. And the compiled code runs close to the speed of C. Go is designed to let you move fast.

We’re hoping Go turns out to be a great language for systems programming with support for multi-processing and a fresh and lightweight take on object-oriented design, with some cool features like true closures and reflection.

For more details check out Golang.org.

To get things started the right way, here’s Go’s rendition of Hello World!:

05 package main

07 import fmt “fmt” // Package implementing formatted I/O.

09 func main() { 10 fmt.Printf(”Hello, world; or Καλημέρα κόσμε; or こんにちは 世界n”); 11 }

[nickcarraway]

Ping

[DManA]

I wonder who out there was demanding another new language?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Isn't this the same stuff they said about Java?

Java sucks.

[bsf2009]

If managers can be convinced that a new language will cut programmer costs, they will force their programmers to use it, even if it doesn’t really cut costs.

[TexGuy]

If managers can be convinced that a new language will cut programmer costs, they will force their programmers to use it, even if it doesn’t really cut costs.

If they are convinced, they will force it on programmers regardless of the cost. It happens everyday in large companies (i.e., beauracracies). Ada was going to save DoD millions. ***laugh*** Also, just look at the current Healthcare legislation. It's gonna cost a fortune but a few misguided fools are convinced otherwise. And if you can convince a judge that it is the best interest of someone, somewhere; you can even kill another human being (i.e., abortion). It's all in who you can convince you are in the 'right'.

[Señor Zorro]

I'm always interested in hearing about a new, innovative language on the horizon. But crossing Python and C++ isn't innovative. Besides, no language based on C++ could ever be that good.

[klystron]

The only thing worse than Java is someone who likes Java!

[laker_dad]

even large binaries compile in just a few seconds

Guess I've been doing it wrong all these years by compiling the source code...

[The Comedian]

You can always tell when computer science professors are bored this semester, and training material sales for existing languages have fallen off:

A new language comes out.

Coming up next: Scheme and COBOL merged to create Schlimeball...

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[McGruff]

I heard Microsoft is secretly developing Go++;

:^)

[DManA]

Oh I’m interested to. Just that I’ve seen soooooo many over the years come and go.

[DManA]

I would love to see the business case that was presented selling the idea that cash and talent should be invested in developing a new language. Must have been good.

[DManA]

LOL you cynic.

[nickcarraway]

Isn’t it Go#?

[bsf2009]

I was a victim of the UCSD Pascal regime at UCSD.

[dfwgator]

Java won’t even be the dominant language of the JVM in a few years, I see Scala eventually becoming the preferred language.

[The Comedian]

I was a victim of the UCSD Pascal regime at UCSD.

I remember interviewing recent grads back in the late 90's who had just been taught Pascal. No C++, no Prolog, no assembler, not even any C.

I wanted to bomb the computer science departments and burn the professors at the stake.

Typical academic approach:

Teaching stuff that will only make you suited to teaching stuff, and not actually adding value to anything.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I see Scala eventually becoming the preferred language.

Scala?

OK...I see :

http://www.scala-lang.org/

Scala is a general purpose programming language designed to express common programming patterns in a concise, elegant, and type-safe way. It smoothly integrates features of object-oriented and functional languages, enabling Java and other programmers to be more productive. Code sizes are typically reduced by a factor of two to three when compared to an equivalent Java application.