If Google No Longer supports Golang
Tags: google, go
Published: 2024-06-30 01:33:29

---
title: If Google No Longer supports Golang
published: true
date: 2024-06-29 22:01:00 UTC
tags: google, golang 
canonical_url: https://huizhou92.com/p/if-google-no-longer-supports-golang
---

Last month’s hot topic in IT circles was Google laying off many developers from its Python core team and flutter/dart team, purportedly for a city-wide reorganization.  
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40171125](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40171125)

Reportedly, those laid off were mostly core members responsible for important Python maintenance.  
As a gopher, I pondered: will Google abandon Go? And if so, what would become of Go?

## What does Google offer to Go?

Based on our past understanding clarified by @Lance Taylor and descriptions from various sources, we can estimate what Go has likely received from Google.

1. **Job Positions** : Details regarding job positions of members of the Go core team, including compensation, benefits, and other remuneration.
2. **Software and Hardware Resources** : Information on Go-related resources such as intellectual property, servers, domain names, and module management mirrors required by the community.
3. **Offline Activities** : Possibility of reduced or scaled-down Go conferences worldwide in terms of funding and endorsement.
4. **Internal Resources of Big Corporations** : Gradual loss of exposure to advanced projects and opportunities for Go’s adoption due to the absence of resources within Google.
5. **Promotion and Feedback Channels** : Slower discovery and response to significant issues and features in Go as Google’s internal demands historically take precedence.

## Potential Scenarios

What might happen if Google dissolves the Go core team and ceases all infrastructure support?

- Dissolution of the Go core team, leading members may retire or seek employment elsewhere.
- If Google decides to cease all investment in Go, maintenance of Go could become more complex as it relies heavily on infrastructure. In such a scenario, Go might transition from Google to an external foundation, resulting in noticeable maintenance fluctuations.
- If Google chooses to continue investing in Go through other internal teams, the worst-case scenario could involve Google flexing its ownership of intellectual property, possibly leading to Go being rebranded.
- CNCF might take over Google’s mantle, organizing the future development of Go. Among CNCF projects, the Go language enjoys the widest adoption.

## Probability of Occurrence

Currently, Go belongs to Google Cloud. Considering Go’s current trend focusing on customer success, the likelihood of Google Cloud shutting down Go is low. But who knows? I consulted `gemini` on this question.

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*4EEwSKbJ6DxddogE.png)generated by Gemini

## Conclusion

Drawing from the example of Rust, which transitioned from Mozilla’s core to an independent foundation, Go could potentially thrive even more. A nonprofit organization will probably form around Go (or it may directly join CNCF), with enough support from major companies, at least for a period.

## References

- [https://ajmani.net/2024/02/23/go-2019-2022-becoming-a-cloud-team/](https://ajmani.net/2024/02/23/go-2019-2022-becoming-a-cloud-team/)
- [https://www.reddit.com/r/golang/comments/1cft7mc/if\_google\_decided\_to\_part\_with\_the\_core\_go\_team/](https://www.reddit.com/r/golang/comments/1cft7mc/if_google_decided_to_part_with_the_core_go_team/)