Software developers leverage various tools for writing code. These development platforms can range from a basic text editor to a fully-featured Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Traditionally, these tools ran on the developer's local machine. However, with the exponential increase in the consumption of online services, development platforms have also moved to the cloud. Today, developers can write code and compile it using their browsers. These browser-based IDEs offer various features, and in this article, we will review the best Go online compilers.

The Benefits of an Online IDE and Compiler

Before looking at the various Go online compilers, it is vital to review the benefits these development environments offer. The primary goal of any tool is increased productivity. Online IDEs achieve this objective by providing features that enhance the development process. For example, setting up a development environment is quick and efficient. Since it is a cloud-based service, you can reduce setup time while providing a standard platform for your development teams. Online IDEs also come with a range of features you would expect from traditional applications that run on a local machine. These include syntax highlighting, debugging support, and, in some cases, a dedicated online development environment.

AWS Cloud 9

AWS Cloud 9 is a multi-language cloud-based IDE that software developers can use to create and compile Go code. Acquired by AWS in 2016, this online development platform has all the features one would expect, including a fully-featured editor with code completion and code hints. In addition, for Go development, you can either choose the default run configurations or customize one of your own. Since it is an AWS service, it integrates seamlessly into AWS Lambda and allows you to connect to any Linux server platform. AWS Cloud 9 also provides additional features that improve developer productivity. These include keyboard shortcuts to help you write code faster using the default setting or align the bindings to other popular text editors such as Vim, Emacs, and Sublime Text.

Codeanywhere

Codeanywhere is another fully-featured cloud-based IDE that you can use to write and compile Go code. It has multiple features that support the entire development lifecycle. For example, it provides dedicated memory and storage for individual projects and allows you to preview the solution with private URLs. In addition, if you are working in a team, it supports various tools and workflows, provides the capability to share projects, and offers live collaboration. Finally, its text editor has all the features one would expect of an enterprise-grade IDE, such as autocomplete, code analysis, and automated code formatting.

myCompiler

myCompiler is another browser-based online service that allows you to edit and compile Go code. It gives software developers the capability to use any device and offers other features that support the development process. For example, its online editor supports autocomplete and syntax highlighting and allows you to tag and find code which is helpful in larger projects with multiple dependencies.

Paiza Cloud

Like AWS Cloud 9 and Codeanywhere, Paiza Cloud also offers developers a fully-featured online development environment with CPU, memory, and storage. Furthermore, its integrated development environment allows you to manage Linux servers with your browser instead of running terminal commands. Paiza Cloud also provides an online editor you can access from any device, and the service allows you to publish your compiled solution.

Replit

Replit is another fully-featured cloud-based IDE that lets you write and compile Go code. Like other Go compilers in the list, it also offers a dedicated development environment with the relevant CPU, memory, and storage. In addition, its IDE text editor comes with prebuilt templates, code snippets, and project boilerplates that help software developers launch their projects faster. Replit also offers what it calls a multiplayer feature. This functionality gives teams the ability to write code on the same file in real-time. It also provides live chat and allows you to add members to your team by simply sending them a link.

CodeInterview

CodeInterview is an online Go compiler with a difference. This service provides interactive coding platform recruiters and technical managers can use to interview Go developers. It comes with a code editor and compiler and provides an embedded audio and video service for face-to-face communication. In addition, the platform records the code and interview and provides a playback service allowing you to review the session later.

The Go Playground

The Go Playground is an online compiler hosted on the Go official website. It provides an online compiler service that runs and compiles Go code written in the editor provided or copied from your local machine. However, the service does not replace the need for a fully-featured compiler as it offers limited functionality. The program runs in a sandbox with limited hardware resources. It also only provides support for a reduced standard library. Its purpose is to give software developers curious about Go an environment to experiment with code snippets.

ideone

ideone is another service that gives you the ability to compile and debug Go code online. It also offers an API so you can integrate your development environment with their cloud compiling service. Its online text editor has the same basic functionality as the Go Playground, so it does not compete with the fully-featured IDEs in this list. However, its API provides enterprise-grade capabilities such as reports on execution time, memory consumption, runtime errors, warnings, and other compilation issues. Although it does not offer a cloud-first development environment, ideone can be a valuable addition to a Go project that needs its cloud compiling services.

OneCompiler

OneCompiler gives Go software developers the ability to write and share Go code online. However, like ideone and Go Playground, it lacks a fully-featured IDE and development environment. One of its more prominent features is that it allows you to share code online with other developers. It also offers support for new programmers with a large developer community and enables collaboration by allowing you to create a virtual organization for your team.

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