"Let’s Go" is considered one of the most authoritative practical guides to web development with the Go language. The author, Alex Edwards, has more than ten years of experience in industrial development and demonstrates step by step how to build a complete web application from scratch. Unlike references or documentation, the book is structured around creating a real project called Snippetbox - an analog of Pastebin, where users can store and share code or text snippets.
The guide covers all aspects of professional development: project architecture, routing, working with databases, form handling, session management, security, user authentication, and even testing at different levels. A key strength of the book is its attention to details often left out in courses: centralized error handling, directory structure, TLS configuration, and CSRF protection.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Beginner Go developers - understand how Go is applied in real projects beyond exercises.
- Web developers from other languages - learn how familiar concepts like MVC, routing, and middleware are implemented in Go.
- Backend engineers - get a ready-made framework for building secure and scalable services.
- Students and self-learners - follow a step-by-step tutorial through all stages of building an app.
- Engineers preparing for production - learn principles verified by practice and aligned with modern standards.
- Teams and tech leads - see how to structure projects for readable, extendable, and reliable code.
What’s New in the Second Edition?
The second edition of "Let’s Go" is significantly expanded and updated to reflect the latest versions of Go (up to Go 1.24). Alex Edwards refined the material to be as practical and up-to-date as possible.
- Step-by-step project creation - not just learning syntax but building the Snippetbox app incrementally.
- New routing content - detailed coverage of wildcard routes, method-based routing, and the Go standard library.
- Project architecture - guidance on structuring cmd, internal, and ui directories.
- Database work - examples with MySQL for connections, transactions, queries, and model design.
- Middleware and security - panic recovery, HTTPS setup, CSRF protection, session management, and authorization.
- Modern testing practices - unit tests, integration checks, coverage profiling, and mocks.
- Practical exercises - tasks like building account systems and password reset functionality.
The book goes far beyond showing “how to write code.” It teaches how to build an industrial-strength application: from a basic page to a secure, production-ready service with users, tests, and deployment considerations.
How Can You Apply the Knowledge in Practice?
- Create your own web services from scratch with Go’s standard library.
- Organize codebases to be scalable and maintainable.
- Connect and manage databases with performance and security in mind.
- Configure HTTPS and manage server configurations.
- Implement user authentication and authorization systems.
Developers move beyond toy examples and gain experience directly transferable to real-world practice.
The Developer's Opinion About the Book
As a practicing Go developer, I consider "Let’s Go" one of the best resources for transitioning from theory to real web projects. In my work, I’ve often found gaps in Go’s documentation: it’s clear how to use http.Server or template, but not how to build a complete application. This book closes that gap.
Its greatest strength is the attention to architecture. Edwards demonstrates how to properly divide projects into directories, where to store templates, and how to structure code for long-term maintainability. For me, "Let’s Go" became a guidebook I return to whenever I design a new service.
Emily Carter, Backend Developer (Golang Specialist)
FAQ for "Let’s Go, 2nd Edition"
1. Can the book be used as a first step in learning Go?
It’s intended for those already familiar with Go syntax. The author recommends completing the Tour of Go or reading the "Little Book of Go" first. Without this foundation, advanced topics like middleware, templates, or request contexts will be difficult. With basic knowledge, however, "Let’s Go" is the perfect first serious project.
2. Is the Snippetbox project production-ready?
Yes. The app is designed with production readiness in mind: secure sessions, HTTPS, centralized error handling, and tests. The goal is to teach how to create maintainable web services, not throwaway demos.
3. How does it differ from Go documentation or online courses?
The official docs describe individual packages and functions but not how to assemble them into an application. Online courses often stop at basics or use external frameworks. "Let’s Go" is unique in showing how to use the standard library to build a project step by step, including advanced details like CSRF protection and directory structure.
4. How up to date is the material in the second edition?
The book matches Go 1.24 and reflects updates in routing, modules, and the standard library. These practices are considered community best practices and will remain relevant long-term.
5. Can it be used for team-based learning?
Yes. It covers project structuring, centralized logging, and error handling essential in team environments. Dedicated chapters on security and testing make it a solid training resource for tech leads and teams.
6. Does it cover performance topics?
Yes. The author shows how to use database connection pools, cache templates, and optimize middleware. The testing chapter also includes coverage profiling, which helps evaluate performance impact.
Information
| Author: | Alex Edwards | Language: | English |
| Publisher: | 2nd Edition | ISBN-13: | - |
| Publication Date: | 2024 | ISBN-10: | - |
| Print Length: | 441 pages | Category: | Golang Books |
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