How to Idiomatically Encode a []byte Slice into an int64 in Go?

A More Idiomatic Approach to Encoding a []byte Slice into an int64 in Go

In Go, there are various ways to encode a []byte slice into an int64. While the provided code accomplishes the task, it can be optimized for greater idiomatic fluency.

Original Code:

var data int64
for i := 0; i < 8; i++ {
    data |= int64(mySlice[i]&byte(255)) << uint((8*8)-((i+1)*8))
}

Improved Idiomatic Approach:

An alternative, more idiomatic approach involves using bit shifting and looping through the slice:

func main() {
    var mySlice = []byte{244, 244, 244, 244, 244, 244, 244, 244}
    data := int64(0)
    for _, b := range mySlice {
        data = (data << 8) | int64(b)
    }
    fmt.Printf("%d\n", data)
}

Explanation:

The improved code takes advantage of bit shifting (<< and >>) to perform the encoding efficiently. It iterates through the slice using the range syntax, shifting the value of data by 8 bits (<< 8) and then bitwise ORing (|) the current byte value into it. This effectively appends the bytes to the left-most end of data without overwriting existing bits.

Advantages of the Idiomatic Approach:

• Conciseness: The code is significantly shorter and easier to read.
• Clarity: Breaking the bit manipulation operations into explicit steps enhances understanding.
• Improved Performance: Bit shifting is more efficient than the original bitwise operations.
• Compatibility: This approach aligns better with the idiomatic style of Go programming.

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