Go vs Rust | SearchDATA | Blog
Go, the open-source programming titan – renowned for its ease of use and Google support. Vs the newcomer, Rust – a blazingly fast language, empowering everyone to build reliable and efficient software. A bout of epic proportions ensues; so, sit back and relax with a beverage of choice, and enjoy the show. Let’s Go!
Round 1… Performance
Rust is faster than Go. BAM. Rust dominates from the get-go (pun intended) because of the design trade-offs they’ve made to their system, in favour of an optimal execution speed. This is important as it’s desired when performance is the top priority, resulting in a much faster and pleasurable user experience. Rust’s performance is comparable with C and C++ which’re regarded as the better-performing compiled languages.
In contrast, Go prioritises simplicity, therefore some of the run-time performance is lower. However, Go hits back – given its build speed is arguably better than Rust’s, which is vital for bigger codebases. Additionally, Go is primarily designed for development speed rather than execution – putting Rust slightly ahead of Go; both of which are top of the market, stronger than the majority of other language choices out there (Bitfield Consulting, 2021).
Round 2… Simplicity
Bitfield Consulting (2021) suggests simplicity is a key factor when considering which language to use. Since Go prioritises simplicity, its language doesn’t take all that long to learn as it was built in reaction to the overly complicated languages such as C++, meaning programmers can write code and boost their productivity quickly. In this respect, Go strikes Rust again – an even match putting them on par in terms of viability!
Final round… Features
It all comes down to the final consideration regarding the programmes’ features. Rust hits back with a knockout blow as it supports more complexity, meaning more is achievable with it. In comparison to Go, it is more feature heavy. These powerful features help programmers make the most out of the least code, such as the ‘match’ feature for writing flexible, expressive logic concisely (Bitfield Consulting, 2021).
Both Go and Rust are top-class software building tools. The aim of this blog is to help you choose which language to use for your next project. We’ve covered three key areas like performance, simplicity, and features – hopefully this has been helpful. Stay tuned for our next blog update in a fortnights’ time!