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10 Things I Wish I'd Known About Go Developers Before Hiring One

August 16, 2023
2 min read

The hiring process is a meticulously intricate one, especially when you are looking for a Go Developer. As a unique language designed to solve distinct problems, Go, also known as Golang, requires a special breed of developers who are not just proficient in the language but also understand the subtleties that come with it. It's like searching for a cryptographer who can unravel the mysteries of a cipher text.

In the past, I have been in situations where I've wished I knew more before embarking on the journey of hiring a Go Developer. If I were to crystallize my experiences into nuggets of wisdom, here are the ten things I believe can change the trajectory of your hiring process.

  • Understanding Go and Its Philosophy : Go is a statically typed, compiled language that emphasizes simplicity and efficiency. Its philosophy is rooted in creating an environment where developers can create simple, maintainable code. It’s essential to grasp that Go was not designed to be a purely object-oriented language, it was engineered to be simple, stable and productive.
  • Appreciating the Uniqueness of Go Developers : Go developers are not just coders; they are system thinkers, problem solvers and innovators. They appreciate the minimalist philosophy of Go and thrive on creating software that is efficient, reliable and easy to understand.
  • Recognizing the Importance of Concurrency in Go : Go’s in-built support for concurrent programming is its distinctive feature. In the words of von Neumann, "You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies", concurrency can be a friend and an enemy. It exponentially improves the performance of software but it requires a level of mastery to avoid pitfalls such as race conditions.
  • Assessing a Go Developer's Approach to Error Handling : Go takes a divergent approach to error handling compared to other languages. Look for developers who understand and value Go's explicit and verbose error handling.
  • Valuing Experience over Academic Credentials : While an Ivy League degree may look impressive, it doesn't necessarily guarantee competency in Go. The language is still emerging and many of the best Go developers are self-taught or have honed their skills on the job.
  • Understanding the Trade-offs of Go's Simplicity : Go developers understand that the language's simplicity comes at a cost. It lacks some of the features present in other languages. A good Go developer will be able to articulate the trade-offs and explain how they mitigate them.
  • Assessing Their Ability to Work within Go's Constraints : Go is a less flexible language compared to, say, Python or Ruby. It’s important to assess if the developer has developed the discipline and creativity to work within these constraints.
  • The Importance of the Go Developer's Network : The Go community is vibrant and active. A strong network indicates that the developer is committed to continuous learning and growth.
  • Their Opinion on Go's Future : The future of a language determines its relevance. A developer who believes in the future of Go and is invested in its evolution will prove to be a more valuable asset.
  • The Proof is in the Code : Lastly, nothing speaks louder than actual code. Ask for samples of their work to assess code quality, comprehensibility, and whether they follow Go idioms and conventions.

In conclusion, hiring a Go developer is more than just ticking off a list of technical skills. It's about finding someone who understands and appreciates the philosophy of Go, can work effectively within its constraints, and is actively engaged in the Go community. It's about finding a developer who is not just proficient in Go, but also embodies the values and principles it stands for. Like a seasoned vintner savoring a rare vintage, have a discerning palate when it comes to hiring a Go developer. The taste of success depends on it.

TAGS
Hiring
Go
Developers

Related Questions

Go is a statically typed, compiled language that emphasizes simplicity and efficiency. Its philosophy is rooted in creating an environment where developers can create simple, maintainable code. It’s not designed to be a purely object-oriented language, but to be simple, stable and productive.

Go developers are not just coders; they are system thinkers, problem solvers and innovators. They appreciate the minimalist philosophy of Go and thrive on creating software that is efficient, reliable and easy to understand.

Concurrency is a distinctive feature of Go. It improves the performance of software but it requires a level of mastery to avoid pitfalls such as race conditions.

Go takes a divergent approach to error handling compared to other languages. It uses explicit and verbose error handling.

The language is still emerging and many of the best Go developers are self-taught or have honed their skills on the job. An Ivy League degree doesn't necessarily guarantee competency in Go.

Go's simplicity comes at a cost. It lacks some of the features present in other languages. A good Go developer will be able to articulate the trade-offs and explain how they mitigate them.

The Go community is vibrant and active. A strong network indicates that the developer is committed to continuous learning and growth.

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