Questions
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1Explain the difference between := and var declarations in Go.
2How does Go handle multiple return values, and what are named returns?
3What is the difference between pass-by-value and pass-by-pointer in Go?
4Explain type assertion and type switch with real-world examples.
5How do generics (Go 1.18+) change API and library design? Where would you use or avoid them?
6How does Go's compilation model (static linking, no VM) affect deployment and performance in a backend context?
7What are zero values in Go, and why do they matter?
8When and how would you use the reflect package in production Go code?
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05 / 08

How do generics (Go 1.18+) change API and library design? Where would you use or avoid them?

Generics allow writing type-safe functions and data structures that work across multiple types without code duplication or runtime reflection, but should complement rather than replace interfaces.

Generic utility functions
Use generics for
  1. 1

    Generic collections: typed stacks, queues, sets, linked lists

  2. 2

    Functional utilities: Map, Filter, Reduce, Contains, Keys, Values

  3. 3

    Typed repository or service interfaces to avoid repeated boilerplate

  4. 4

    Type-safe event bus or pub/sub systems

  5. 5

    Constraint-based numeric or ordered operations

Avoid generics when
  1. 1

    Runtime polymorphism with interfaces is sufficient and clearer

  2. 2

    The type set is open-ended — new types should satisfy behavior via interfaces, not constraints

  3. 3

    Constraints become so complex they hurt readability more than they help

  4. 4

    You need method type parameters — Go does not support them, only function and type-level generics