Type System and Interfaces

This module explores Go's type system and interfaces, which are fundamental to Go's design philosophy. Go's type system is statically typed but with some dynamic features through interfaces, providing a balance between safety and flexibility that differs significantly from JavaScript's dynamic typing.

Go's Type System Overview

Go is a statically typed language, meaning types are checked at compile time. This provides better performance, earlier error detection, and clearer code documentation compared to JavaScript's dynamic typing.

Static vs Dynamic Typing

Basic Types

Go provides a rich set of basic types that are more explicit than JavaScript's primitive types.

Numeric Types

String and Boolean Types

Composite Types

Go provides several composite types that allow you to group values together.

Arrays and Slices

Maps

Structs

Interfaces

Interfaces are one of Go's most powerful features, providing a way to define behavior without implementation details.

Interface Basics

Interface Composition

Empty Interface

Type Assertions and Type Switches

Go provides mechanisms to work with interface types dynamically.

Type Assertions

Type Switches

Type Embedding and Composition

Go uses composition over inheritance, achieved through struct embedding.

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Practice Questions:

1. Explain the difference between Go's static typing and JavaScript's dynamic typing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?
2. How do Go interfaces differ from JavaScript's duck typing? Provide examples of when each approach is beneficial.
3. Describe Go's struct embedding and how it compares to JavaScript's class inheritance. When would you use each approach?
4. Create a Go program that demonstrates interface composition, type assertions, and type switches with practical examples.

Project Idea:

• Build a simple shape calculator in Go that uses interfaces to handle different geometric shapes (Circle, Rectangle, Triangle). Implement area and perimeter calculations, and use type switches to handle different shape types. Compare this with a JavaScript implementation using classes and inheritance.

Next Steps:

• Learn about Go's concurrency features with goroutines and channels
• Explore Go's error handling patterns and best practices
• Understand Go's package management and module system