Go is compiled and python is interpreted which makes go much faster when running than python. The go compilation is fast as well and it will download the dependencies for you when needed. A benefit of the compilation (static checking) is that the code is extensively checked before execution and only logical errors are left. With python, a program will crash or generate bogus result at runtime and it might not be trivial to find the cause. For instance, when you make a typo in a field name, python will create a new field with that name without telling you. The program will then not run as expected and might generate bogus result or result in a crash. The crash, or an exception, will signal that there is a problem, but the real cause might be difficult to locate if there are many lines of code. Go code is a bit more verbose than python to help the checking at compilation. Python has a long evolution history that changed the language, packaging etc. which is not always coherent or consistent/compatible. Go ensures backward compatibility and changes are slow, coherent, and minimal. Python has multiple GUI libraries while Go has only a very limited set of choices. Python has thus incredibly powerful GUI tools like Jupiter and nice graphics libraries. In summary, for system administration where you only need small scripts that are easy to verify manually and debug, python is trump. For longer and more complex tasks, or when you need bug free code fast, Go is your best friend. When you need an app with GUI, prefer python, but this is changing with go packages like Fyne and GIO. The best would be for you to know both and use the most appropriate language for the various use cases. Answer from chmikes on reddit.com
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Quora
quora.com › Which-is-easier-to-program-in-Python-or-Go
Which is easier to program in, Python or Go? - Quora
It’s not simply the diamond approach but the overall structure of a composite language delivers simpler and easier to understand apps. Easily deployable: You don’t have to install an interpreter that matches one of the supported Python versions for your code. Just take your binary, with everything it needs and execute it on the target machine. No dependencies problems on deploy. Really stable: Go has a “compatibility promise” that prevents changes that breaks existing programs. Explicit but not specially verbose: Go is very explicit language but few exceptions (structural typing for interfaces) but at the same time you don’t have to type a lot.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/golang › go vs. python: what's the difference, and is go a good choice for system administration?
r/golang on Reddit: Go vs. Python: What's the difference, and is Go a good choice for system administration?
September 23, 2023 -

I'm interested in learning Go. I'm wondering what the difference is between Go and Python, and what are the advantages of Go over Python. I'm also wondering if I can implement data structures and automate jobs of linux with Go.

And what are some best resources for learning go
Thanks in advance for your help!

Top answer
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83
Go is compiled and python is interpreted which makes go much faster when running than python. The go compilation is fast as well and it will download the dependencies for you when needed. A benefit of the compilation (static checking) is that the code is extensively checked before execution and only logical errors are left. With python, a program will crash or generate bogus result at runtime and it might not be trivial to find the cause. For instance, when you make a typo in a field name, python will create a new field with that name without telling you. The program will then not run as expected and might generate bogus result or result in a crash. The crash, or an exception, will signal that there is a problem, but the real cause might be difficult to locate if there are many lines of code. Go code is a bit more verbose than python to help the checking at compilation. Python has a long evolution history that changed the language, packaging etc. which is not always coherent or consistent/compatible. Go ensures backward compatibility and changes are slow, coherent, and minimal. Python has multiple GUI libraries while Go has only a very limited set of choices. Python has thus incredibly powerful GUI tools like Jupiter and nice graphics libraries. In summary, for system administration where you only need small scripts that are easy to verify manually and debug, python is trump. For longer and more complex tasks, or when you need bug free code fast, Go is your best friend. When you need an app with GUI, prefer python, but this is changing with go packages like Fyne and GIO. The best would be for you to know both and use the most appropriate language for the various use cases.
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Here is my (rightfully) salty take: If you only need to build up a quick script, then Python is the way to go. Anything more serious, only use Go. Recently I had an opportunity to remember why I quit Python in the first place. The language is a mess. Python libraries are an even bigger mess. The pain of not knowing what will break is just painful. And when it does break, it's more painful to fix. For me at least, writing apps using python, even while doing it as a part of a course, was like shooting myself in the face. I don't know how Python developers sleep peacefully at night. It's an absolute mess. I would do everything in Go if possible. I may have to write more verbose code, but it isn't as painful as the app blowing up on my own face in an unexpected time. I would rather write if err != nil {} any day of the week than deal with Python code.
People also ask

Is Golang better than Python?
It’s hard to say that any language is necessarily “better” than any other because programmers use different languages for different use cases. When it comes to microservices, APIs, and other fast-load features, Golang is absolutely better than Python.But when it comes to natural language processing or machine learning, the robustness and readability of Python (as well as the extensiveness of its libraries) come into play.
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hackr.io
hackr.io › home › articles › programming
Golang vs Python: Which Language Should You Learn?
Is Golang harder than Python?
Both Golang and Python are considered “easy to learn” languages, although they may take some time to master. Most programmers will be able to hit the ground running with either language but should take courses or bootcamps and engage with practice questions to truly develop their skills.
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hackr.io
hackr.io › home › articles › programming
Golang vs Python: Which Language Should You Learn?
How do I learn Golang?
Golang can be learned through Golang certification courses, which will also help prove to employers that you are knowledgeable about the intricacies of Go. But because Go is such an easy language, it can also be learned through projects, experiments, and fast-paced bootcamps.
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hackr.io
hackr.io › home › articles › programming
Golang vs Python: Which Language Should You Learn?
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Oxylabs
oxylabs.io › blog › go-vs-python
Go vs Python: The Differences in 2026
To say that the difference between Go and Python is significant would be somewhat of an understatement. Both are easy to use and beginner friendly, but when it comes to their purposes, they couldn’t be more distinct.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/golang › should i recommend my brother learn go over python for his first language?
r/golang on Reddit: Should I recommend my brother learn Go over Python for his first language?
May 8, 2022 -

Hey r/golang,

I will post to other subs if not quite on topic.

Context:

My brother has stated his intention to learn how to program with the desire of getting an entry level programming position once he has picked up enough skill. He currently is a novice with no prior programming experience.

I love Go at this point. I've learned 4-5 programming languages and have been working professionally for 6 or so years now. Which means I no longer trust my opinion on what it's really like to be just starting out. I don't want to lead my brother down the wrong path because I'm out of touch with what it's like to be a beginner.

Assertions:

  1. Languages don't matter, just the ability to stick with it long enough to reach Minimum Viable Employability.

  2. There are more jobs available for Python than Go for entry level developers.

    1. "Software Engineer Python" filtered for entry level on linkedin: 59k Results

    2. "Software Engineer Go" filtered for entry level on linkedin: 5k Results

  3. Python has more batteries included libraries. This would allow someone to realize more results while being required to deeply understand less.

  4. Python is more ubiquitous, so someone starting out will have more education resources to draw on.

I also think(with no evidence to support) that employers looking for python devs would be more willing to take on someone with no background in development than employers looking for Go devs.

To be clear I want to recommend that he learn Go. It's what I've been using daily for the last year. And it's honestly been the best experience I've had with a language.

But given his situation, I believe it's more likely he will succeed at finding his first job with python. He can do whatever he wants from there.

TLDR: I'm probably going to recommend Python over Go to someone with no programming experience. I think it's more likely they will land an entry level job given their lack of experience with that language. Please check my logic.

Edit1: a word

Edit2: I should clarify that he is an adult with an existing career/time obligations and is looking to make a career change. I appreciate the mentality of starting from first principals, but it's not necessarily practical in this scenario.

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Hackr
hackr.io › home › articles › programming
Golang vs Python: Which Language Should You Learn?
January 30, 2025 - Go is much faster than many other languages, especially interpreted languages such as Python. ... Simpler and easy to use. Compiled with virtual machines support. Automated typing and garbage collection.
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Medium
medium.com › @vectorvarma0303 › go-vs-python-a-beginners-honest-comparison-7b9b6eac1647
Go vs Python: A Beginner’s Honest Comparison | by Nadempally Sai Verma | Medium
July 27, 2025 - But here’s what matters more as a beginner: Go programs compile to a single binary file. No dependency hell, no “it works on my machine” problems. You can drop that binary on any server and it just runs. Python’s ecosystem is amazing, but virtual environments and dependency management can be a nightmare when you’re starting out.
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Quora
quora.com › Why-is-the-Go-language-better-than-Python
What is the difference between Go and Python? - Quora
March 13, 2015 - Answer (1 of 12): Golang is simply the smaller language compared to Python - that applies also to builtins and ecosystem. In that regard, learning to use all or most of Golang is easier than for Python. The finish line is simply much closer.
Find elsewhere
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Quora
quora.com › Googles-Go-language-vs-Python-which-would-you-prefer-to-use-and-why
Google's Go language vs Python, which would you prefer to use and why? - Quora
Answer (1 of 23): I will go with Go all the time. I can write Go as fast as I can write Python, in that case I don’t see why I would choose Python and leave Go. Static typed is a big one for me, when you are writing hundreds of lines then dynamic typing is fine, write a thousand things starts ...
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Preslav
preslav.me › 2023 › 11 › 27 › python-is-easy-golang-is-simple-simple-is-not-easy
Python is Easy. Go is Simple. Simple != Easy. · Preslav Rachev
November 27, 2023 - While you can write equivalent code in Python, an unwritten rule in programming says that if the language provides an easier (as in, more concise, more elegant) option, programmers will gravitate towards it. But easy is subjective, and simple should be equally applicable to everyone. The availability of alternatives to perform the same action leads to different programming styles, and one can often find multiple styles within the same codebase. With Go being verbose and “boring,” it naturally ticks another box - the Go compiler has much less work to do when compiling an executable.
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Quora
quora.com › What-are-the-differences-between-Python-and-Go-programming-language
What are the differences between Python and Go programming language? - Quora
Answer: Go is much faster in performance and has a more clear hierarchy unlike Python, which allows the creation of a well-structured code base. Additionally, because Golang is a static language, it requires declaring the type of each variable, ...
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CBT Nuggets
cbtnuggets.com › blog › technology › programming › go-vs-python-which-language-should-you-use-for-your-next-project
Go vs Python: Which Language Should You Use for Your Next Project?
However, the big takeaway is this: Python is more readable, but less concise than Go. Go has a higher learning curve, but provides a couple more syntactic features to make the code easier to troubleshoot.
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Quora
quora.com › Which-is-the-best-for-web-development-Python-or-Go
Which is the best for web development, Python or Go? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): If you’re not sure, pick a language you know better. Python and Go are both fine. The more you understand the kind of app you’re building and its requirements, the more prepared you’ll be to answer your own question.
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Quora
quora.com › Which-is-better-for-future-skill-Go-or-Python
Which is better for future skill, Go or Python? - Quora
Answer (1 of 11): GO. Why Go? As I told earlier Go Language is the most easiest languages that I’ve ever seen and used. But it was only the first attraction for me. Here is the main 5 reasons why we choose Go over Python Django #1 It Compiles ...
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Quora
quora.com › Is-Golang-harder-than-Python
Is Golang harder than Python? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Yes. Although both languages are garbage collected, with Go, you have more control over memory. Any language that gives you more control over the system is bound to be more complex.
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Quora
quora.com › Is-it-better-to-learn-Go-than-Python
Is it better to learn Go than Python? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): I would argue that both are good to know. If you don’t already know a programming language, you might find better resources for learning how to program using Python. There are more resources related to Python, for learning and for developing solutions.
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Software Engineering Daily
softwareengineeringdaily.com › home › why we switched from python to go
Why We Switched from Python to Go - Software Engineering Daily
March 3, 2021 - Go doesn’t have a single dominant framework like Rails for Ruby, Django for Python or Laravel for PHP. This is a topic of heated debate within the Go community, as many people advocate that you shouldn’t use a framework to begin with. I totally agree that this is true for some use cases. However, if someone wants to build a simple CRUD API they will have a much easier time with Django/DJRF, Rails Laravel or Phoenix.
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Medium
medium.com › @eleanor.watson › choosing-between-go-and-python-when-to-use-each-programming-language-2c22bc834edd
Choosing Between Go and Python: When to Use Each Programming Language | by Eleanor Watson | Medium
May 6, 2024 - Whether you’re developing operating system components, network daemons, or infrastructure tools, Go’s performance and simplicity can be advantageous. Python is a dynamically typed, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity, readability, and extensive ecosystem of libraries.
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DOIT
doit.software › home › blog › go vs python in 2025: which one to choose?
Go vs Python: Overview, Benefits, Challenges [2025]
October 29, 2025 - Many languages require additional secondary libraries that might generate conflicting function names and complicate the process. Go’s feature-rich library is full of sufficient tools that make the process of development easier and quicker. ... As the language is still relatively young when comparing Go vs Python vs Java, it does not provide the amount of support other languages do.
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Bitfield Consulting
bitfieldconsulting.com › posts › go-vs-python
Go vs Python: choosing the right language for the job — Bitfield Consulting
October 5, 2020 - They’re well-designed, powerful, modern, relatively easy to learn, and ideal for almost all applications. Both have great communities, wide adoption, thriving ecosystems, and high commercial value.
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Uvik
uvik.net › blog › go-vs-python
Golang vs Python in 2024: Deep Review and Comparison
January 10, 2026 - In terms of syntax of Golang vs Python, the last one is easier to understand (user-friendliness), which benefits readability and flexibility.