Key Points and Main Ideas from the Transcript

Introduction to Go Language

• Go is a statically typed language.
  • Variables must be declared with types or inferred.
  • Types cannot change without type conversion.
  • Example: Declaring a string type variable.
• Strongly typed language.
  • Operations depend on variable types.
  • Example: Cannot add integers and strings together.
• Advantages:
  • Thorough code checking by the compiler.
  • Better code completion and hinting.

Compiler and Concurrency

• Go has a built-in compiler producing binary files.
  • Contrast with interpreted languages like Python.
  • Example: Faster execution of loops (120x faster compared to Python).
• Compilation time is fast.
  • Allows quick testing process.
• Built-in concurrency:
  • No need for special packages or workarounds.
  • Uses go routines.

Simplicity and Memory Management

• Syntax is concise, fewer lines of code.
• Built-in garbage collection.
  • Automatic memory management.

Setting Up Environment

• Go to the Go website for installation instructions.
• Check installation using Go version command.
• Initialize the Go project.
  • Create a folder and use go mod init.
  • Creates a go.mod file.
• Editing tools: Vim, Neovim, VS Code, etc.

Writing Your First Go Program

• Initialize the main package: package main.
• Create the main function: func main() {}.
• Import packages using import keyword.
• Use fmt.Println() for printing to the terminal.

Variables and Constants

• Declare variables with var keyword.
  • Example: var intNum int.
• Variable types (integers, floats, strings, booleans).
  • Different bit sizes: int8, int16, int32, int64.
• Default values for uninitialized variables.
  • Integers: 0, Strings: empty string, Booleans: false.
• Constants declaration with const.
  • Example: const pi = 3.14.

Functions and Control Structures

• Functions use func keyword.
  • Example: func intDivision(numerator int, denominator int) int.
• Control structures: if, else if, else, switch-case.
  • Example: error handling with integer division by zero.

Arrays, Slices, and Maps

• Fixed-length collections: Arrays.
  • Indexable and stored in contiguous memory locations.
• Slices: Flexible length collections.
  • Use append function to add elements.
  • Capacity and length differences.
• Maps: Key-value pairs.
  • Example: map[string]uint8{}
  • Iterate using range.

Looping and Routines

• Loops: for, range, etc.
  • Range over arrays, slices, and maps.
• Concurrency using Go routines and sync package.
  • Example: go function() and sync.WaitGroup.
• Mutex for managing concurrent writes.
  • Mutex and ReadWriteMutex for fine control over read/write access.

Pointers

• Pointers store memory addresses.
  • Use * for pointers and & for memory addresses.
  • Example: var p *int and p = &i.
• Pointer dereferencing and usage in functions.

Go Routines

• Concurrent execution of functions.
  • Better performance with multicore CPUs.
• Handling go routines with sync.WaitGroup.
  • Example: wg.Add(), wg.Done(), wg.Wait().
• Safety with mutex and read-write locks.

Channels in Go

• Mechanism to pass data between Go routines.
  • Create channels with make(chan int), use <- for sending and receiving.
  • Buffered and unbuffered channels.
  • Example: Coordination using channels and select statements.

Generics

• Allows type flexibility in functions and structs.
  • Use []T for generic types.
  • Example: func sumSlices[T int | float32 | float64](values []T) T.

Creating an API in Go

• Setting up a project structure.
  • Folders for API, CMD, and internal logic.
• Use of Chi package for routing.
• Middleware for authorization.
  • Custom error handling.
  • Example: authorization function and error handlers.
• Database interactions.
  • Database interface with mock implementation.
• Defining endpoints and handling requests.
  • Example: /account/coins endpoint.

Conclusion

• Recap of all learned aspects.
  • Language structure, variables, control structures, concurrency, go routines, structs, interfaces, channels, generics.
• Practical example: Building and running a Go-based API.