From Node.js to Go: Why I’m Making the Switch for Backend Development

Introduction

Hello coders!

I’ve been working with GO for almost 3 weeks now, and I like the hung of it. Node.js has been my go to language when building API’s for nearly a year and half now. But using Go has made my work a lot more simple. It’s developer friendly, blazingly fast (compared to nodejs), and easier to debug than Nodejs.

I’m not dismissing Nodejs, nor am i diminishing its value. Rather, I’m appreciating the benefits Go brings to the table and recognizing it’s strengths over Nodejs. If you explore my GitHub page, it is clear that 90 % of my backend code is written in JavasCript’s Nodejs. Perhaps its time to switch to a better alternative: Go.

I’ll point out a few reasons why you might consider using Go as your primary language for backend applications and it’s up to you to decide whether to go for it or not.

1. Performance
   Go is a compiled language, meaning it converts your code directly into binary code for the target system. This eliminates the need for a runtime interpreter, making it faster at execution compared to interpreted language i.e JavaScript😂.
2. Static Typing
   Go is statically typed, which means the data type of variables is defined during development. This helps catch potential errors like using a string where a number is expected early on in the coding process. You might argue why not just use Typescript? Well Go’s static type checking happens at compile time, whereas TypeScript compiles to JavaScript and might not catch errors until runtime.
3. Standard Library
   Go comes with a rich standard library that provides essential building blocks for backend development. This includes functionalities for networking, file I/O, encoding/decoding, and more, reducing the need for external dependencies. Again, making your app run faster.
4. Simplicity
   Even though I consider myself a newbie in Go, I must argue that it has a clean and concise syntax that’s very easy to learn if you’re already familiar with any other programming language.
5. Effective Error Handling
   The language emphasizes explicit error handling. Errors are returned as values, making it clear when and where errors occur in your code. This makes it easier to debug your code.

Conclusion

Go offers a compelling alternative for backend development, especially for those with experience in other languages. Its compiled nature, static typing, rich standard library, and focus on simplicity make it a powerful and developer-friendly choice. While Node.js remains a valuable tool for me, Go’s strengths in performance, error handling, and ease of use make it a language worth exploring for your next backend project.