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Google Programming Language on the “Go”

Chris Crum — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:53:26 +0000

Update: Philipp Lenssen notes that someone has already developed a language called Go! (with an exclamation point). There is a book on it here. The author wants Google to change the name. This could get confusing for developers looking to use Go, although, it could also help sales of the Go! book. It wouldn’t make for very happy customers, however.

Original Article: Google has open sourced its own programming language, which it simply calls "Go." The company still calls Go experimental. Google’s Go Team describes the language:

Go combines the development speed of working in a dynamic language like Python with the performance and safety of a compiled language like C or C++. Typical builds feel instantaneous; even large binaries compile in just a few seconds. And the compiled code runs close to the speed of C. Go lets you move fast.

Go is a great language for systems programming with support for multi-processing, a fresh and lightweight take on object-oriented design, plus some cool features like true closures and reflection.

Go comes with built-in support for concurrency, what Google calls a "novel" type system, and as mentioned above, it is apparently really fast. Google says most builds take well under a second.

The following clip provides some more info about the language:

The Go site offers a number of documents, such as a tutorial, a FAQ page, a tech talk, language specification, memory model, and more. There are how-tos for installing Go and contributing code. There is command documentation, package documentation, and source files. If you’re a developer itching to mess around with a new language, go dig in.

Related Articles:

> Google Developers Produce New Programming Language

> Open Android Alliance Poses Problem For Google

> Google Gives Android Developers a Donut

Duck Duck Go Bringing New Ideas To Search Table

Frank Reed — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:22:43 +0000

If ReadWriteWeb hadn’t looked at one of the newest players in the search engine game it may not have been

found based on its name, Duck Duck Go. Before there is any further discussion about the merits of the engine one has to wonder why this name? Using a play on the name of an ages old kids game to represent results that are picked (I am guessing here) is a stretch at best and a brand manager’s nightmare at worst.

So what’s in a name? In this case it remains to be seen. The engine itself seems pretty cool. One feature that I found particularly useful was the ability to click on an icon and search a term on 27 other sites including Twitter, About.com, NY Times, cnet and more. On that front alone the search engine may be worth an occasional visit. Gee, I wonder what the chances of Google doing something similar?

The core results are apparently sourced for the most part from Wikipedia and Yahoo’s BOSS. While the initial reaction to the Wikipedia source was a visible cringe and an audible sigh (the accuracy factor of Wikipedia data is always a potential gotcha) the way the information is presented helps to overcome that concern (after all it is just a concern since measuring the actual accuracy is difficult). The results pages are very clean, easy to read and the results were helpful for the few searches I con-duck-ted (get it?).

The RWW article points out one of the great strengths of the engine

Duck Duck Go also does a great job at providing users with options for disambiguation, which also look like they are based on Wikipedia’s disambiguation pages. If you search for “Berlin,” for example, Duck Duck Go will ask you if you are looking for the German capital, an album from Lou Reed, or a town in Connecticut.

Add in an iPhone app and the ability to add the engine to the Firefox toolbar and I am a convert of sorts. Of course, the question always comes back to how can another search engine survive with Google being the 800 pound gorilla in the space. Since there are a ridiculous amount of people using search to get around the Internet it may not take a big percentage of overall users to make the business go.

One nagging question that seems to be popping up a lot lately regarding Internet business is that annoying need to know how they plan to make money. While that is not readily apparent some quick information is that the company is based in Valley Forge, PA and its founder is Gabriel Weinberg. It may be worth keeping an eye on this entry into an already crowded field. Having options usually is a good thing especially when the other major search engine options outside of Google are more well known for their questionable business moves than actually doing search.

Comments

Yahoo Unveils Mobile Developer Platform

Andy Beal — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:18:02 +0000

OK, forget what we said about 2007 being the year for mobile content. 2008 is where the mobile action is at!

Hot on the heels of Google’s Android initiative, Yahoo is announcing its own developer platform. The Yahoo! Mobile Developer Platform will provide tools for developers to code and launch mobile widgets for a wide range of cell phones. Here are the details from Yahoo:

The platform is an open environment for developers to create mobile Widgets for instant access by millions of consumers.

Widgets created on the Mobile Widget Platform will be available to consumers from various starting points, including Yahoo! Go 3.0 and Yahoo!’s new mobile homepage.

The platform will enable developers to write code once and publish their content across Yahoo!’s mobile network, allowing accelerated delivery of a feature-rich mobile experience.

The platform will enable consumers more control over their experience, as well, by providing the functionality to add and delete Widgets at any time.

Full-featured SDK for developers to be introduced over the coming weeks.

Third-party Widget launch partners include, eBay, MySpace, and MTV.

In addition to the new mobile widget platform, Yahoo is today launching Yahoo Go 3.0 beta. Along with some interface upgrades, Yahoo Go 3.0 provides an “open” environment offering Yahoo!’s full selection of Mobile Widgets developed by third parties.

The announcement will be officially made at around 11 a.m. PT at CES.

Comments

Yahoo Resets Mobile Platform At CES

WebProNews Staff — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:24:45 +0000

Several changes to Yahoo’s mobile strategy will start with an open developer platform and updated offerings to those who access Yahoo from a wireless phone.

Google Android, that search company’s open mobile development platform, has a rival for the attentions of application developers. Yahoo will unveil a set of plans at CES 2008 for their mobile services that include opening up its platform.

An early look at Yahoo’s Mobile Developer Platform comes to Las Vegas today. The mobile space has been hotter than the all you can eat buffets seeing hundreds of tech geeks this week on the Strip.

Yahoo sees the platform as one that will provide a one-stop solution for developers who want to build an app and make it available as a Yahoo Mobile Widget quickly. A revamped Yahoo Mobile homepage will feature the mobile widgets; Yahoo Go 3.0 and Yahoo oneSearch makes these Widgets accessible as well.

"We are setting the stage for dramatic growth in the number of third party widgets and creating an innovative new experience that we believe will ultimately drive further adoption of mobile services," Marco Boerries, executive vice president of Yahoo Connected Life, said in a statement.

The first Widgets available will include ones for eBay, MySpace, and MTV. Ebay’s offering allows mobile bidding, and searching and browsing its items and categories, while MTV brings in music news and MySpace provides mobile access to its email and friend requests.