go-data-structures

In Go memory allocation, new returns a pointer to a zero-initialized value, while make initializes and returns a ready-to-use slice, map, or channel. Use make for built-in data structures and new for struct pointers.

Go arrays have fixed sizes determined at compile time, whereas Go slices are dynamic views over arrays. Slices handle memory allocation automatically and support appending elements, making them more flexible for real-world Go programs.

Common Go gotchas include slice aliases sharing underlying arrays causing unexpected mutations, maps causing concurrent read/write panics, and nil maps returning zero values but panicking on writes during memory allocation.

Iota is a Go compiler constant generator that increments by one for each line in a constant declaration block. It simplifies defining enumerated types and bitwise flags, resetting to zero in each new const block.

Use the fmt package with verbs like %v for default formatting, %+v for struct field names, and %#v for complete Go syntax representation. This accurately displays slice, map, and array structures during debugging.

Yes, composite literals initialize Go data structures directly by specifying values in braces. They efficiently create and populate arrays, slices, maps, and structs without requiring separate memory allocation calls.