Go, also known as Golang, is designed to compile quickly due to several key features and design choices:
1. Simplified Dependency Analysis
Go's packages have clear and simple dependencies, which are explicitly declared in each file. This streamlined dependency model allows the Go compiler to quickly determine which files need to be recompiled. Unlike C or C++, where the inclusion of header files can lead to complex and time-consuming dependency analyses, Go's approach minimizes the amount of work the compiler needs to do before it starts compiling code[1][2].
2. Avoidance of C Preprocessor
Go does not use a preprocessor nor does it allow conditional compilation or inclusion directives like #define or #include. This design choice avoids the overhead associated with these features, which can significantly slow down the compilation process in languages like C and C++[1][2].
3. Fast Compilation Speed by Design
The Go language and its compiler were designed with fast compilation as a primary goal. This is achieved through a combination of a simple and efficient syntax, a straightforward type system, and the absence of complex features like templates or generics (although recent versions of Go have started to introduce some form of generics)[1][2].
4. Efficient Concurrent Compilation
Go's build system compiles packages in parallel where possible, taking advantage of multiple CPU cores to speed up the compilation process. This parallel compilation can significantly reduce the time required to build large projects[1][2].
5. Simplicity and Orthogonality
Go's syntax is deliberately simple and orthogonal, which means there are fewer rules for the compiler to consider when parsing and compiling code. This simplicity leads to faster compilation times because the compiler can process code more straightforwardly[1][2].
6. Intermediate Representations and Simplified Code Generation
Go uses efficient intermediate representations that are optimized for quick code generation. The compiler does not perform overly complex optimizations, which balances the need for f...
