If you’re looking to learn Go, a high-level programming language combining the performance of low-level languages, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, I’ve curated the best online courses and resources to help you master Go, a language designed by Google for ease of concurrency writing.
From small scripts to large cloud-based applications, Go is versatile and in-demand. The courses featured in this guide are either free or offer free audit options, making it accessible to all aspiring programmers. So, let’s dive in and explore the world of Go programming!
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What is Go?
Go (sometimes mistakenly referred to as Golang) is a statically-typed, compiled programming language engineered by Google’s top minds. Known for its natural syntax reminiscent of dynamic languages like Python and efficient performance akin to C or C++, Go is ideal for developing concurrent applications on multicore processors.
As the 7th most popular programming language, Go offers a lucrative career path for developers. It supports object-oriented programming and memory management, making it suitable for a variety of applications.
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Courses Overview
- Total enrollments across the courses: 178,998
- Majority of courses are free, free-to-audit, or offer free limited access
- 6 beginner-friendly courses and 3 for experienced programmers
- Subject followed by 800+ learners
Begin your Go journey with the “Getting Started with Go” course by the University of California, Irvine. This free-to-audit course is designed for those with programming experience looking to delve into Go. Explore data types, protocols, and code writing in this foundational course.
Key takeaways include:
- Introduction to Go’s unique aspects and environment setup
- Basic data types, control flow, and memory allocation
- Composite data types and standardized protocols
| Institution | University of California, Irvine |
| Provider | Coursera |
| Part of | Programming with Google Go Specialization |
| Instructor | Ian Harris |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Workload | 8–12 hours |
| Enrollments | 70K |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5.0 (2K) |
| Exercises | Quizzes and peer-graded assignments (for paying learners) |
| Certificate | Paid |
Embark on your Go journey with “Take your first steps with Go” by Microsoft. This course, offering a free certificate, introduces you to basic syntax and program building in Go. Suitable for those with some programming background.
Key takeaways include:
- History and key features of Go
- Basic data types, control structures, and functions in Go
- Advanced data handling and object-oriented principles
| Institution | Microsoft |
| Provider | Microsoft Learn |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Workload | 5–6 hours |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5.0 (2.4K) |
| Exercises | Coding exercises |
| Certificate | Free |
Delve into the basics with “Golang for Tourists,” a free introductory course to Go programming. Covering essential Go features and programming techniques, this course is perfect for beginners with no coding experience.
Key takeaways include:
- Setting up the Go environment and understanding basic programming concepts
- Data types, control statements, and advanced data structures in Go
- Concurrency and pointers in Go programming
| Channel | Vilito Exquisitus |
| Provider | YouTube |
| Instructor | Rob Adams |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 19–20 hours |
| Views | 12K |
| Exercises | Lab for each section + solutions |
| Certificate | None |
Master Go fundamentals with the free course “Fundamentals of Go” by Karan Pratap Singh. Starting from the basics, this course is beginner-friendly and covers advanced topics to enhance your Go programming skills.
Key takeaways include:
- History of Go and program structure
- Data types, control flow, and code organization
- Advanced data structures, error-handling, and concurrency
| Website | karanpratapsingh.com |
| Instructor | Karan Pratap Singh |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 2–4 hours |
| Certificate | None |
Explore the main features of Go with “A Tour of Go” from the creators of the Go programming language. This free interactive course covers essential Go concepts, from basic programming to advanced topics like concurrency and interfaces.
Key takeaways include:
- Go program structure, flow control, and data types
- Defining methods, interfaces, and supporting generic programming
- Concurrency with goroutines and channels
| Institution | The Go Project |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Workload | 1–2 hours |
| Certificate | None |
Hone your Go coding skills on Exercism, a free online platform offering well-designed programming exercises. Receive personalized feedback on your solutions and strengthen your coding abilities with a variety of exercises.
Key takeaways include:
- Basics of Go programming and hands-on exercises
- Practicing skills through exercises of varying difficulty
- Self-paced learning with 135 programming exercises
| Institution | Exercism |
| Level | All Levels |
| Workload | Self-paced |
| Enrollments | 117K |
| Mentors | 1,627 |
| Certificate | None |
Enrich your programming knowledge with “Practical Go Lessons,” a free introductory course covering essential programming concepts through the lens of Go. Perfect for beginners, this course explores fundamental computer science topics.
Key takeaways include:
- Understanding program structure and hardware components
- Introduction to Go language and setup
- Data types, control statements, and code organization
| Website | practical-go-lessons.com |
| Instructor | Maximilien Andile |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 6–10 hours |
| Exercises | End-of-chapter questions |
| Certificate | None |
Learn the fundamentals of Go with “Learn Go” by Codecademy. This free limited-access course introduces you to the basics of Go programming, making it ideal for beginners.
Key takeaways include:
- Introduction to understanding programs and Go’s code organization
- Variables, data types, and control flow in Go
- Creating functions and understanding memory addresses
| Institution | Codecademy |
| Level |
