Which Go Compiler Should You Choose: gc or gccgo?

Primary Differences between 'gc' and 'gccgo' Go Compilers

The Go language is defined by a specification and implemented by two distinct compilers: gc and gccgo. Both compilers aim to adhere to the Go specification, but they offer varying capabilities and performance characteristics.

Build Performance

Gc, the original compiler, focuses on fast compilation speeds. It employs a straightforward and conservative approach, resulting in quicker build times compared to gccgo.

Run-time Performance

Gccgo prioritizes optimization during compilation. It leverages optimizations available in GCC, which lead to improved run-time performance. CPU-intensive programs compiled with gccgo often execute faster than those compiled with gc.

Command Line Options

Gc and gccgo offer distinct command-line options for customization. Gc provides a basic set of options for compiling and linking Go programs. Gccgo, being part of GCC, inherits a wider range of command-line options inherited from GCC.

Licensing

Gc is released under the proprietary Google Software License. Gccgo, on the other hand, is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). This difference in licensing affects the usage and distribution of the compilers.

Architecture Support

Gc supports a limited number of popular processors, including x86 and ARM. Gccgo, with its integration into GCC, supports a wider range of processors, including SPARC, MIPS, PowerPC, and Alpha.

Additional Considerations

• GCC Version Dependency: Gccgo is only compatible with specific GCC versions. Ensure compatibility before using gccgo for your project.
• Escape Analysis: Gccgo lacks escape analysis optimization, which can impact performance in scenarios with frequent small allocations and garbage collection.
• Go Version Support: Gccgo has limited support for newer versions of Go. Verify compatibility before using gccgo with the latest Go version.

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