Are you interested in learning the Go programming language? If yes, Look no further!
In this article, we have compiled a list of the 6 best books for learning and practising Go. Go, also known as Golang, is a popular open-source general-purpose programming language developed by Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thomson.
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced programmer, there are books on this list that can help you learn the core features of Go and develop applications of your own. So, let's get started and find the book that suits your needs!
1). Introducing Go: Build Reliable, Scalable Programs
Written by Caleb Doxsey, this is one of the best books for beginners to learn the Go language. This book helps you learn the Go language easily with its small and digestible chapters. It provides a hands-on guide to learning the Golang. Caleb Doxsey covers the Go language’s core features and topics with step-by-step instructions with exercises in each chapter that helps you practice what you learn.
Topics it covers :
- Explains Basics - data types, variables, and control structures
- it covers topics to Learn complex types, such as slices, functions, structs, and interfaces.
- You will Explore Go’s core library and learn how to create your package
- You can Write tests for your code by using the language’s go test program
- You will Learn how to run programs concurrently with goroutines and channels
2). The Go Programming Language
The Go Programming Language is written by Alan A.A. Donovan and Brian W. Kernighan. It provides an excellent introduction to the Go language for beginners. It requires no prior knowledge of Go, or any other specific programming language, so you'll find it easy whether you come from JavaScript, Ruby, Python, Java, or C++. Both beginners and advanced programmers can take reference from this book to learn the core features of the Golang.
By the end of this book, you will be able to write clear, idiomatic, and efficient programs to solve real-world problems and develop applications of your own.
Topics it covers :
- Numbers, strings, functions
- Recursion, and useful examples of graphics, UTF-8
- Error handling
- Methods and interfaces
- Concurrency
- How to build, test, and manage projects using the go tool
- The art of metaprogramming using reflection.
3). Head First Go
Head First Go by Jay McGavren is a beginner-friendly guide for learning the Go language. If you are a visual learner then this book is for you. This book provides a visual approach to learning the Go language. This book explains concurrency and automatic memory management very efficiently. It doesn't teach only the core features and programs in Golang but it also explains error output, documentation, and search engines to find solutions to problems.
Topics it covers :
- The syntax basics, Conditionals and Loops, Functions
- Packages, Arrays, Slices, Maps
- Concept of building storage and Structs
- Encapsulation and Embedding, Interfaces
- Concept of Recovering from Failure
- Goroutines and Channels
- Automated Testing and talks about code quality assurance
- Web Apps and HTML templates.
4). Hands-on Go Programming
Hands-on Go programming is written by Sachchidanand Singh. You will learn the basics of Golang along with the advanced features too. Anyone who has some knowledge of programming can use this book to learn the advanced Go programming language concepts. Engineering students, IT Professionals, Architects, and developers can take references from this book. You'll learn about Data types, Constants, Variables to Interfaces, Pointers, Concurrency, and Error Handling.
Topics it covers :
- You'll learn about Golang syntaxes, control structures, and, Error Handling in-dept
- You'll learn to declare, create and modify Slices, Maps, and Struct in Go.
- You'll be able to build your concurrent programs with Goroutines and Channels.
- You'll learn Error handling too.
5). Go in Action
Go in Action is a book to learn Advanced Go programming concepts written by William Kennedy, Brian Ketelsen, and Erik St. Martin. You'll begin with the basic concepts of Go then you'll get to learn how to develop real-world applications like websites and network servers with the Golang. This book is for any intermediate-level developer who has some knowledge of other programming languages and wants to get going with the Golang. This book focuses mainly on the implementation of the language, including topics like language syntax, Go's type system, concurrency, channels, and testing.
Topics it covers :
6). Concurrency in Go: Tools and Techniques for Developers
This book is written by Katherine Cox-Budauy. If you already know the fundamentals of Golang then this practical book demonstrates best practices and patterns to help you incorporate concurrency into your systems. You'll learn the skills and tooling you need to implement concurrent systems of any size to your applications. You'll learn the key differences between concurrency and parallelism. This book is for you if you want to learn advanced concurrency in the Go language.
Topics covered :
- Understand how Go addresses fundamental problems that make concurrency difficult to do correctly
- Learn the key differences between concurrency and parallelism
- Dig into the syntax of Go’s memory synchronization primitives
- Form patterns with these primitives to write maintainable concurrent code
- Compose patterns into a series of practices that enable you to write large, distributed systems that scale
- Learn the sophistication behind goroutines and how to Go’s runtime stitches everything together
Try these books to learn the Go programming language and start building your applications!
Conclusion
Learning Go programming language can be a great addition to your skillset, and there are many resources available to help you do so. These 6 best Go programming books provide a comprehensive guide for beginners as well as intermediate-level developers to learn and practice Golang.
Whether you prefer a visual approach, a hands-on guide, or a more theoretical approach, there is a book that will suit your learning style. By exploring the topics covered in these books, you can easily gain knowledge about syntax, control structures, concurrency, and more. So, pick the one that best suits your needs and start your journey towards becoming a proficient Go programmer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Go language, and who developed it?
Go language is an open-source general-purpose programming language, also known as Golang. It was developed and designed by Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thomson.
2. What are the best books to learn the Go programming language?
Some of the best books to learn the Go programming language are:
- Introducing Go: Build Reliable, Scalable Programs by Caleb Doxsey
- The Go Programming Language by Alan A.A. Donovan and Brian W. Kernighan
- Head First Go by Jay McGavren
- Hands-on Go Programming by Sachchidanand Singh
- Go in Action by William Kennedy, Brian Ketelsen, and Erik St. Martin
- Concurrency in Go: Tools and Techniques for Developers by Katherine Cox-Budauy.
3. What are some of the best Go programming books for advanced learners?
Some of the best Go programming books for advanced learners include "Concurrency in Go: Tools and Techniques for Developers" by Katherine Cox-Buday, "Go in Action" by William Kennedy, and "Mastering Go: Create Golang production applications using network libraries, concurrency, machine learning, and advanced data structures" by Mihalis Tsoukalos.
4. What are the benefits of learning Go programming?
Benefits of learning Go programming can be numerous such as, including the ability to create fast, efficient, and scalable applications, the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies, and the ability to build robust and reliable systems. Additionally, Go programming is a highly sought-after skill in the tech industry and can offer a high paying job.
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