Golang, more commonly known as Go, is a statistically-typed programming language that was designed by Google developers in 2009. Go has a similar syntax and structure to the C programming language. It is one of the best open-source programming languages in the industry for cloud computing.
If you have mastered Go development but you still don’t have enough experience on your resume to land high-paying jobs, you need a project portfolio. With the right combination of projects in your portfolio, you can showcase your Go skills to prospective clients and employers. This article will guide you through creating Go projects at different levels of expertise.
5 Skills That Go Projects Can Help You Practice
Each time you complete a Go project, you improve your efficiency as a developer. While there are some general skills you will pick up irrespective of the project you complete, the list below contains specific skills that you will practice when working on Go projects.
- Proficiency in Go Syntax. Go syntax is a set of rules and principles that govern the structure of the programming language. It is one of the first things you will learn during programming in Go. Syntax comes up every time you work on a project. So, the more you work, the more you learn and master syntax.
- Programming. Programming is your ability to use codes to give instructions to computers and computer software. Most Go projects require basic to advanced programming. So, you will improve your programming skills each time you finish a project.
- Expertise in Algorithms and Data Structures. As long as your project involves writing computer programs, you will also gain further expertise in algorithms and data structures. Knowledge of data structures helps you with data flow and organization. Algorithms are a specific set of computerized instructions for solving problems.
- Keen Understanding of Operating Systems. If your Go project involves application development, you will gain knowledge of how operating systems work. You should also master OS-specific programming and cross-platform programming.
- Golang Best Practices. There are various best practices for coding with Golang and you will master the most common ones as you complete each project. These best practices are modified or changed from time to time so regular involvement in projects will do you a world of good.
Best Go Project Ideas for Beginners
If you have just started learning Go programming and you don’t have enough hands-on experience, you can start building your portfolio with beginner projects. Below is a list of the top five beginner projects for Go programmers.
With Hello World
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Go Syntax, Golang best practices, Data structures
This is one of the most popular Go Cloud projects for beginners. Build this Hello World application to learn how a Go application is created and deployed. You will need to start by creating a Go cloud account. After creating an account and installing the SDK, you can create and deploy your application on the cloud.
HttpRouter Lookalike
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Go Syntax, Golang best practices, Algorithms and Data Structures
This is an internet router or multiplexer that relays communication between two or more networks. Features of this router should include explicit matches and Path auto-correction, and it is perfect for APIs. When done right, the HttpRouter should be lightweight, scalable, and high-performance.
Something Like Vuls
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Go Syntax, Golang best practices, Algorithms and Data Structures
Vuls is a cloud-based network security software based on Go. You can either use the existing Vuls code as a baseline for your project or replicate the source project yourself. The app is used for scanning software and searching for possible vulnerabilities. While it may not necessarily fix the problem, your project should be smart enough to suggest solutions to the user.
Develop a Calculator
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
You can make a calculator app with simple lines of code if you understand Go. There are calculator templates with pre-written codes you can use, but it would be better to write your Go codes from scratch to develop your skills. Knowledge of operating systems is needed with this project since most mobile calculator software is cross-platform.
Make a Proxy Server
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
A proxy server can be seen as an intermediary between a user’s device and the internet. Many people use proxy servers to hide their IP addresses whenever they want to access location-restricted or possibly harmful sites. With Golang, you can create a proxy server for yourself or the public.
Best Intermediate Go Project Ideas
Intermediate Go projects might be right for you after you have mastered beginner-level programming. These software projects are more challenging but very useful for your professional portfolio.
Traditional Server
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
With this project, you create a computer server using the Go programming language that sends and receives information in real-time. The server doesn’t have to be complicated, but it must come with basic features like providing resources over a computer network to the client-side. You can create anything from a simple web server to a complex one with Go programming.
Create an App Like Wuzz
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
Wuzz is a simple but efficient software for inspecting HTTP used primarily by security researchers. This interactive command-line interface should give users a clearer understanding of a specific HTTP, allowing them to spot abnormalities. Keep in mind that this is not a proxy so it doesn’t hide or replace your IP address.
Create a Web Application
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
You can build and deploy a fully functional web application with Go. The Go server can be used for the backend of the application while CSS and HTML can be used for the front-end. The theme and niche of the website can be anything you want it to be from a regular static landing page to a dynamic web application.
Make a Slack Bot With Go
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
The Slack API allows developers to design bots that run on the software as long as they meet the requirements. The bots can be used for regular Slack interactions like real-time messaging, auto messaging, or group messaging. If you aren’t a fan of Slack, you could consider making a bot for another application like IRC or Telegram.
Create a To-Do List
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
Create a cloud-based to-do list using the Go programming language. It should come with a calendar, a notebook for taking notes, and a team management tool. Since it is going to be cloud-based, integrating teams should not be difficult. Make sure every member of the team can receive notifications at the same time.
Best Advanced Go Project Ideas
If you think you have mastered the Go programming language enough to pursue complex development, you can test your skills with advanced projects. Below are the top five advanced Go projects you should consider adding to your portfolio.
Mini E-Commerce Site
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
There are hundreds of e-commerce sites available on the internet today and you can add yours to the list. This is an advanced project because of the multiple features like shopping carts, payment pages, check out, and other content management systems. Adding sample products to the site will also make it more realistic.
Customer Relationship Management System (CRM)
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
Have you ever heard of GOCRM, the customer relationship management system? Well, you can make an enterprise-level customer relationships management system of your own. GOCRM is a premium platform so the template and code are not freely available online. Avoid copying the features or ideas and try to add something unique.
Card Game
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
You can build a multi-feature online card game with Go if you have advanced knowledge of the programming language. These card games, no matter how plain, are more complicated than they look. For inspiration, look up existing card games and consider making your own version of them.
Database Management System
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Go Syntax, Golang best practices
A database management system, or DBMS, is software that is used for storing, manipulating, securing, and retrieving data for a company. Golang allows you to create a cloud-based database management system. Apart from knowledge of Google Go, you should also know how to work your way around PostgreSQL.
Your Version of Pgweb
- Go Skills Practiced: Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Golang best practices
Pgweb is a cross-platform, web-based PostgreSQL database designed for portable applications. One of the most important features of this project is the required cross-platform support for OSX, Linux, and Windows. It should also be able to execute and analyze custom SQL queries.
Go Starter Project Templates
Go project templates are ideal for developers who are trying to save time. Instead of starting your project from scratch, you can use an existing template as your foundation. Most of these templates can be customized to suit the needs of your website. Some popular Go templates are listed below.
- Go Vue Template. This template is licensed by MIT and it is great for single-page client applications. It features a Golang API with a Vue.js client and JWT authentication. It also features a user management system.
- Vue Go Graphql. Are you trying to build a full stack web application? The Vue Go Graphql might be a good option for you, especially if you are a beginner. It has the complete Go source code for development. The template allows you to design an application with Vue.js as the front end technology and Golang as the backend technology.
- HttpProxy.go Template. This ready-made template lets you design an HTTP proxy server. Everything you need is already available in the template so all you have to do is copy and apply the code. However, you may decide to edit the base code or add features to your version of the proxy.
Next Steps: Start Organizing Your Go Portfolio
Your digital portfolio is an important part of your brand as a Go developer. It is a collection of all your projects over the years, as well as additional information about your skills and services. It can be hosted on your website and should be easily accessible to anyone who wants to learn more about your work. Some great tips for designing your portfolio are listed below.
Link Your Website to GitHub
As a programmer, a custom website on a reliable domain would do you a world of good. However, it is not enough to simply name the projects you have completed over the years. Other core project details are required. You need to upload actual files and links to GitHub. If you do not like GitHub, you can try other development environments like GitLab, BitBucket, and Phabricator.
Program Your Website With Go
There are hundreds of general-purpose programming languages that can be used in website development in the industry. However, you should not develop your website with another programming language other than Go. Your portfolio website is your first opportunity to show your prospective clients what you can do with Golang.
Add Other Pages
You can make your portfolio more professional by adding multiple pages instead of just a single static page. There should be a home page, an About Me page, a project page, and a contact page. If you want, you can add a page for terms and conditions. Freelance Go programmers may also add pricing and hours billed to their portfolio.
Go Projects FAQ
Go is better than Python when it comes to programming speed. The programming language also happens to be faster than Java, and Java is faster than Python. Go’s speed is one of many reasons it’s many programmers’ language of choice.
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Yes, Go is significantly faster than C++ because of the speed of its compile-time. Irrespective of the volume or strength of what you are coding, you are more likely to finish faster with Go as your source programming language compared to C++.
Yes, learning Go is worth it for any programmer who wants to expand their skill set in 2022. The programming language is fast, efficient, in high demand, and has an extensive standard library. Despite the Google backing, Go is used by major companies like Alibaba, Docker, and Uber.
Yes, Go is easy to learn, especially for someone with basic experience in C-style coding. The syntax is simple and easy to read. This speeds up the development process by cutting out the time required for additional research. If you don’t have any coding experience, you may need to dedicate more time to learning.
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